GRAND GEDEH COUNTY, LIBERIA – More than 240 students enrolled at CVI Elementary School in Konobo District #3 are facing an uncertain academic future amid severe infrastructural deficiencies and an alarming shortage of government-paid teachers.
The situation, described by school authorities as “deeply embarrassing,” highlights the growing challenges confronting rural education in Liberia.
Speaking in a recent interview, Principal George Chilah Gbagba revealed that despite the school’s rapidly increasing enrollment, the institution lacks adequate seating capacity, forcing many students to endure overcrowded and uncomfortable learning conditions.
“Our children are eager to learn, but the environment is discouraging,” Mr. Gbagba said. “We simply do not have enough chairs and desks to accommodate them.”
Even more troubling is the staffing crisis. Of the seven instructors currently teaching at the school, only one is on the government payroll. The remaining six serve as volunteers, receiving little to no formal compensation for their work.
To sustain classroom instruction, school administrators have been compelled to appeal to parents for small contributions to support the volunteer teachers a temporary measure that underscores the fragility of the institution’s operations.
The rapid growth in student enrollment has far outpaced the school’s available resources, raising concerns about the quality of education and the sustainability of academic services in the district.
Principal Gbagba is now calling for urgent government intervention to prevent what he describes as a potential collapse of educational services at CVI Elementary.
“We are calling on the central government, through the office of the County Education Officer, to swiftly intervene,” he urged. “Our volunteer teachers need to be placed on government payroll, and our students deserve proper seating and learning materials.”
The administration is appealing to the Ministry of Education to prioritize the school’s needs by absorbing volunteer instructors into the civil service system and providing essential classroom furniture to restore dignity to the learning environment.
As Liberia continues to emphasize education as a pillar of national development, the unfolding situation in Konobo District #3 serves as a stark reminder of the persistent inequalities facing rural communities.
For the 240 children of CVI Elementary School, timely intervention could mean the difference between progress and setback.
