PHOTO: Principal Annie T. Sleweon
By Charles Gbayor, maorethason1997@gmail.com
HARPER, Liberia- Failure to put many volunteers on the government’s payroll after they have served for protracted periods has begun to backfire in the country’s southeastern Maryland County, thus undermining instruction at public schools.
Most of the volunteer teachers are not yet on the government payroll and they often abandon classes in demand of salaries, with the 2021 school year in its early stage.
The situation is reported to be greatly undermining the academic progress at the Cape Palmas High School in Harper, some 250 miles/403 kilometers southeast of Monrovia.
Madam Annie T. Sleweon, Principal of the Cape Palmas High School is appealing to Central government through the Ministry of Education to prioritize putting long service teachers, especially the once that are currently volunteering their time and services to molding the minds of young Liberians.
Yet, they are yet to be placed on the payroll to help them mitigate other domestic challenges they are facing in supporting their families.
The principal of the Cape Palmas High made the statement during 85th graduation ceremony of the institution over the weekend in Harper City.
Madam Sleweon said if national government consider her kind request, this will serve as one of the means of empowering Teachers to providing quality education in the Maryland and Liberia.
At the same time, the chief administrator of main public high school has urged local leaders in Maryland County and citizens to take positive ownership of the school system by making meaningful contributions for the growth and development of the education sector.
She noted that as first female Principal for Cape Palmas High School her administration has initiated renovation works on the school facility that got cracked at the result of poor management by past administrations.
Principal Sleweon added that when she took over as principal the facility was in deplorable condition that led to students having their lessons in the auditorium, which as not conducive for for students positive learning.
The Cape Palmas High School Principal disclosed that as part of efforts to enhancing student learning, her administration with support from partners have constructed a modern laboratory, senior student’s positive performance in the just end public exams as a landmark achievements since her ascendency to the position as principal.
She said as school authorities, they are currently working out modalities to ease some of the challenges they are being confronted with in this area.
Principal Sleweon cited the lack of sufficient text books, limited financial support to compensate volunteer teachers among others.
Meanwhile, the head of the Maryland County School System, Professor Tehneseo P. Brohdoyen has reaffirmed the Ministry of Education’s commitment to placing volunteer teachers on payroll from now to March of this year.
He applauded the volunteer teachers for their meaningful contributions to the education sector and encouraged them to continues, as the Ministry is working out modalities to Puting smile on the faces to volunteer instructors very soon.
Prof. Brohdoyen made the promise last Sunday during the graduation ceremony of the Cape Palmas High School in Harper Maryland County.