Harper, Maryland County ~ The education prospects of over 1,000 students hang in the balance after the Dorboh Bedell Foundation abruptly withdrew from a major renovation project at the historic Harper Demonstration School, citing persistent administrative interference.
Once a symbol of academic pride in southeastern Liberia, the Harper Demonstration School has fallen into severe disrepair in recent years. An initial assessment pegged damages at more than $41,000 USD. The Bedell Foundation, a philanthropic group, had committed to funding and executing the urgent renovation work.
However, in a press conference held this week, the foundation announced it was ceasing all involvement due to what it described as bureaucratic obstruction by the Maryland County office of the Ministry of Education.
“We’re not disappointed because we’re pulling out our resources,” said Sawodey Doe, Harper District Coordinator for the foundation. “We’re disappointed because we’re leaving behind a school that serves over a thousand students—children who represent the future of our country. Their hopes have been dashed.”
According to Doe, the project—which had already begun with the removal of the school’s roof—was halted midstream after the County Superintendent issued a stop order, claiming that government funds were available to complete the renovation.
“Since the order to stop, neither the Ministry of Education nor the Superintendent has resumed renovation as promised,” Doe added.
The foundation alleges that the Ministry demanded strict adherence to standardized government construction procedures, even for privately funded initiatives. Doe criticized this approach as impractical and counterproductive, especially for organizations acting in good faith to address urgent community needs.
“We’re spending our own money to help these kids,” Doe said. “If we had followed their so-called procedures, the work would have been delayed indefinitely. Our children would still be without a school building.”
The foundation has since removed its materials and pulled its workers from the site. With the structure now left roofless and exposed to the elements, there are growing concerns that the school will not reopen in time for the upcoming academic year.
The Harper Demonstration School, one of Liberia’s oldest public institutions, has long been plagued by neglect. The partial renovation had brought hope to students and parents alike—hope that now appears to have been deferred indefinitely.
Repeated attempts by reporters to contact officials from the Ministry of Education and the Maryland County Superintendent’s Office were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
