Urgently Need School Building, As Locals In Kidka Town Urge Gov’t To Intervene
PHOTO: The only structure they have to call school
By E. Festus G. Frazer, Jr, efgfrazerjr@gmail.com
TAPPITA, Liberia- Locals in the remote Kidka Town in the Gbi and Doru Statutory District in Liberia’s northeastern Nimba County are calling on the government through the Ministry of Education to urgently improve the poor state of education in the area.
According to Town Chief, Marpherson Ziahlue, besides the dilapidated condition of the only school building in the area, there is a serious shortage of teachers and other educational materials.
He wants the government send more teachers in the area.
He said the only run down school with about 110 students has only one teacher, something he believes is causing serious problem for school going children in the area.
“I also want the government to send more teachers here. The school has about 110 students with a single teacher, so you will realize that he will not be effective on the job.”
Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had described the country’s education system as “a mess” and made a promise to move it from mess to best, a promise that the current CDC government of President George Weah has also made.
Kidka Town, with a population of about 575 people, is some 90 kilometers away from the District headquarters, Dorgbor Town. It is also some 45 kilometers away from Tappita city in Nimba County.
The residents of the area are calling for the construction of a better school building.
Town Chief Marpherson Ziahlue said since the establishment of the town, the government has not built any school in the town.
He said the current school building in the town was constructed by residents of the town but it is in a dilapidated condition, adding that it is not conducive for learning.
“We want the government to build school here because since the town was established, the government has not constructed any school building here. As you can see, this building is not in a good condition and it was constructed by ourselves and it is not even in good condition again,” Mr. Ziahlue said.
Article 26 of the United Nations Universal Declaration says it is the basic Human Rights of every child to have access to quality education,
- “Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
- Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
- Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children,”