Chaos erupted on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, as unarmed students of the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS) were teargassed by officers of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) of the Liberia National Police. The students, demanding that their teachers be placed on the government payroll, blocked the main road between the Capitol Building and the Executive Mansion, bringing traffic to a standstill.
The protest, now in its second week, has intensified, with students rallying across Monrovia to amplify their call for better wages and improved employment conditions for public school teachers. Holding placards and chanting slogans, they vowed to continue their demonstrations until the government meets their demands. The students insist that qualified teachers must be immediately placed on payroll, emphasizing that quality education is impossible without fair compensation for educators.
Tensions reached a boiling point when law enforcement attempted to disperse the protesters, leading to the use of teargas. The sight of students, some as young as 14, gasping for air and fleeing in panic, has sparked public outrage. Several students were seen being brutalized and escorted away by police officers, further deepening anger among protesters and civil society groups.
The student protest follows a strike by the Monrovia Consolidated School System Teachers Association (MCSSTA), which has paralyzed public schools across the city. The teachers are demanding salary adjustments based on academic qualifications, full-time employment for volunteer educators, and the implementation of promised wage increases. The MCSSTA has vowed not to return to classrooms until these demands are met.
On Monday, March 24, students of William V.S. Tubman High School staged a protest, marching through the streets of Monrovia to call for their teachers’ return. The demonstration marked the beginning of what has now evolved into a broader student-led movement against poor education policies. Some students have warned that if the government fails to act, they will extend their protests to private schools and other institutions.
Adding momentum to the movement, the University of Liberia’s Student Progressive Alliance (PROSA) has joined forces with the MCSS students in a unified demand for timely payment of teachers’ salaries. PROSA leaders expressed their solidarity, condemning the government’s inaction and emphasizing that a functional education system is critical to national development. “The government must immediately address these issues to ensure a stable learning environment,” one PROSA member told reporters.
The escalating protests place further pressure on President Joseph Boakai’s administration, which is already facing criticism over its handling of the education sector. Critics argue that while the government has allocated millions of dollars for luxury vehicles and other expenditures, it has failed to prioritize the salaries of public school teachers who earn as little as $150 per month.
The CDC-Council of Patriots (CDC-CoP) has thrown its weight behind the protesting students and striking teachers. In a statement, the group condemned what it described as the government’s failure to address the financial hardships of educators, calling it “an insult to the nation’s future.” The group demanded immediate payment of salaries and arrears, warning that continued neglect could lead to widespread unrest.
Civil society leaders have also voiced their support for the protests. Anderson D. Miamen, a well-known advocate, took to Facebook to express solidarity with the students. “They deserve better treatment,” he wrote. “We can pay nearly half a million dollars to a former Central Bank Governor to ‘settle him,’ yet we claim there’s no money to pay teachers properly. This is unacceptable.”
Amos B. Armstrong, another social justice advocate, echoed similar sentiments, pointing to government spending on luxury items. “The government is spending over $40 million in 2024-2025 on luxury cars, fuel, and maintenance for ‘big shots,’ while teachers earn $150 and thousands are not on payroll,” Armstrong told Verity newspaper during the protests.
Unverified reports indicate that Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah has called for calm, assuring the public that the government is working on a solution. However, the lack of concrete measures has only deepened frustration among students and teachers.
Meanwhile, students have vowed to escalate their demonstrations. “No private schools will function today,” they chanted as they blocked the main road leading to the Capitol Building. Reports indicate that groups of students have begun targeting private institutions, urging their peers to join the protest.
The Monrovia Consolidated School System Teachers’ Association (MCSSTA), in an official press release on March 20, reaffirmed its position. The statement outlined key demands, including a salary increment in line with President Boakai’s State of the Nation Address, transitioning volunteer teachers to full-time employment, and increasing budgetary support for MCSS operations. The teachers warned that they would remain off the job until these concerns were addressed.
Government critics argue that the ongoing situation highlights deeper governance failures. Many citizens see the crisis as a reflection of misplaced priorities, where political elites enjoy lavish benefits while public servants struggle to make ends meet.
