Cestos City, Rivercess County — Every time heavy rain falls over Cestos City, students of the G. Flamah Sherman Early Childhood Development (ECD) School are forced to study under leaking roofs as rainwater pours directly into classrooms, turning one of Rivercess County’s oldest learning institutions into what many parents now describe as a “death trap” for children.
Established in 1940, the G. Flamah Sherman Kindergarten School has served generations of children and remains recognized as the oldest ECD institution in Rivercess County. But after more than eight decades of existence, the once-respected institution is now at the center of growing public outrage over what citizens describe as years of neglect, delayed intervention, and unanswered questions surrounding ownership of the deteriorating structure.
During rainfall, there is often little difference between conditions inside and outside the building. Water reportedly leaks through several sections of the damaged roof, soaking classrooms and disrupting learning activities for young children.
The school administration say students are frequently forced to shift positions inside classrooms to avoid dripping water while lessons continue under unsafe conditions.
“We are afraid the building may collapse one day,” Emmanuel Bartee told Verity News. “The children are learning in water during rain, and the floor is breaking apart.”
Beyond the leaking roof, the school’s wooden underground plank flooring has also become severely weakened over time. Several sections are reportedly broken, unstable, and totally damaged, creating fears that children could accidentally fall through and sustain serious injuries.
The condition of the structure now poses a major safety hazard to both students and teachers, especially as the rainy season intensifies across Rivercess County.
Despite repeated concerns raised by citizens over the years, many residents claim successive authorities have failed to provide a lasting solution to the worsening condition of the school.
The situation took another controversial turn after Rivercess County Superintendent Byron W. Zahnwea disclosed that the county administration cannot intervene or begin renovation efforts until the rightful owner of the building is identified.
According to Superintendent Zahnwea, authorities currently lack clear information regarding the legal ownership of the structure being used as the school facility.
He explained that before any renovation or rehabilitation work can proceed, there must first be proper verification and negotiation involving the legitimate owner of the property.
The Superintendent’s statement has triggered widespread debate among residents of Cestos City, with many now questioning how one of the county’s oldest public learning institutions has operated for decades without clear public records regarding ownership of the building.
The revelation exposes deeper administrative concerns surrounding oversight and responsibility for public educational infrastructure in Rivercess County.
Parents are also asking why the ownership issue remained unresolved for years while hundreds of children continued attending classes in what many describe as dangerous learning conditions.
Superintendent Zahnwea further called on citizens and community leaders to assist in identifying the rightful owner of the building so discussions toward intervention can begin.
But for many parents, the ownership explanation has done little to ease fears over the immediate safety of children attending classes daily in the aging structure.
There are now growing concerns that the school may eventually be forced to suspend operations during the peak of the rainy season if urgent action is not taken.
Such a closure could create serious educational challenges for families across Cestos City, particularly for parents who cannot afford private schooling for their children.
“If this school closes, many children will stay home,” Bartee said. “Some parents have nowhere else to send their children.”
Meanwhile, Rivercess County Senator Wellington Geevon Smith had previously promised to construct a new building for the G. Flamah Sherman ECD School following concerns surrounding the deteriorating campus.
However, when contacted regarding the status of that promise, Senator Smith disclosed that the Government of Liberia has not yet released legislative development funds to the Ministry of Local Government for onward distribution to counties.
According to the Senator, the delay in the release of those funds has prevented the commencement of the proposed construction project for the new school facility.
As children continue learning beneath leaking roofs and on weakened wooden floors, the future of Rivercess County’s oldest ECD institution now remains uncertain.
For parents watching their children walk daily into classrooms threatened by rainwater, structural damage, and possible closure, the concern is no longer simply about renovation — but whether authorities will act before tragedy strikes.
