By Ben TC Brooks
RIVER GEE COUNY — The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Education, has broken ground for the construction of the Deabo Public School in Youworken Town, Webbo Statutory District, marking a major step toward improving educational infrastructure in River Gee County.
The project follows sustained media reports highlighting unsafe and deteriorating learning conditions in Deabo Chiefdom, Electoral District 3, where students have for years attended classes in severely dilapidated structures. The conditions raised serious concerns about both student safety and academic performance.
The Deabo Public School project, undertaken under the Deabo Public School Construction Initiative, will feature eight modern classrooms, three administrative offices, an auditorium, six restroom facilities, and a service room.
The US$155,000 project is fully funded by the Government of Liberia. Construction is being carried out by Beneya Corporation, with engineering oversight provided by PR-Tech Incorporated, while the Deabo Development Association serves as the project client.
Reports indicate that District 3 Representative Johnson S. N. Williams played a key role in advocating for the project. Residents say the lawmaker consistently engaged national authorities to ensure that the pressing educational needs of Deabo Chiefdom remained on the government’s development agenda.
Community members have praised his efforts, noting that his persistence helped secure a safer and more conducive learning environment for their children.
In a related development, the Kuncare Foundation, led by Cllr. Kunkunyon Wleh Teh, has begun construction of another eight-classroom facility for Depecpo Public School in Paaken, the headquarters of Deabo Chiefdom.
The school serves students from both Paaken and Tugbaken communities, and the new facility is expected to ease overcrowding and address long-standing infrastructure challenges.
During a visit to the chiefdom in early January, this reporter observed the difficult conditions under which more than 400 students have been learning, underscoring the urgency of the interventions.
According to Depecpo Public School Principal Daniel Copeland, key materials, including sand, crushed rock, bricks, and cement, have already been delivered, with construction now reaching window level.
Residents across Deabo Chiefdom have welcomed the projects, with women, elders, and youth commending the Kuncare Foundation for its timely intervention while urging other partners to support education development in the area.
However, some residents expressed frustration over years of neglect. Mercy Nyanpan of Tugbaken Town questioned the lack of past government investment in the chiefdom.
“Since the time of our forefathers, there has been no government project in Deabo, no school, no health facility, nothing. Are we truly part of River Gee County or Liberia?” she asked.
When completed, the Depecpo Public School complex will include eight classrooms, administrative offices, a library, a storeroom, bathrooms, a kitchen, and teachers’ quarters.
Deabo Chiefdom, located in Electoral District 3, comprises four towns—Tugbaken, Paaken, Youworken, and Saykliken. The district is represented by Representative Williams, whose hometown is located within walking distance of the project sites.
Local education authorities and residents remain optimistic that the ongoing initiatives will significantly improve teaching and learning conditions, offering students a safer environment and renewed hope for the future.
