Toe Town, Rivercess County – Five years of neglect continue to plague Toe Town Public School, as poor infrastructure, lack of government-paid teachers and inadequate learning conditions remain unchanged, leaving hundreds of students struggling to learn in an unsafe environment.
Speaking in a frustrated tone, Principal Genesis Whegelee said repeated appeals to authorities have produced no meaningful results.
According to him, the school has reported its situation to county officials, lawmakers, citizens and even indirectly to the President, but nothing has improved. “We keep asking for help, but things are not going the way we want,” Whegelee lamented. The school currently has 193 students but very limited support.
Whegelee explained that a community-backed construction effort began in 2022 under the leadership of Moses Goweh, but it stalled after the 2023 elections. Goweh reportedly told the school that he no longer had the financial capacity to continue after failing to win his election.
Since then, the community has been struggling to keep the project alive. An NGO, Rising Academy, contributed 50 bags of cement and US$200 for labor, but no further assistance has come.
The principal also point out Rivercess County District #2 Representative Steve Tequah of failing to fulfill his promise to build a modern school facility.
Whegelee said discussions with the lawmaker began on October 24, 2024, and he was assured that the project would be completed in 2025. “2025 has come and passed, and nothing has been done,” he stated, adding that repeated engagements have yielded only empty assurances.
The current learning environment is described as unsafe and highly distracting. The school operates in an open structure without proper walls, exposing students to noise from passing vehicles and community activities. The building is supported by sticks and makeshift materials, which the principal says pose serious danger to students. Teachers are often forced to stop lessons to warn pupils to be careful to avoid accidents.
On the issue of staffing, Whegelee revealed that the school has only one government-paid teacher — himself. The remaining four teachers are volunteers. “Out of the five of us, only I am on government payroll. The rest are serving without salary,” he disclosed.
Despite the discouraging conditions, the principal said he remains committed because of his passion for education and the future of the children.
He is now calling on the government, lawmakers, NGOs and well-meaning citizens to urgently intervene before the situation worsens and the safety and education of Toe Town’s children are further compromised.
