PHOTO: Prof. Ansu Sonii, Education Min. with some of the chairs in the background
With many public schools lacking adequate seating, the Liberian government through the Ministry of Education says it has begun distributing 24,000 newly made arm chairs to public schools throughout the country.
A 2021 education fact sheet shows that there are at least 5,400 public schools around Liberia. And in some schools, especially in outlying areas some students sit on bricks or sometimes on the floor due to lack of chairs, as schools are expected to open for the next academic year on or before November 1 this year…
Speaking at the symbolic distribution ceremony, Education Minister, Dr. Ansu Sonii, disclosed that this distribution is the first of the 100,000 arm chairs that are expected to be distribution to public schools in Liberia.
The second batch of the arm chairs are expected to be turned over the ministry later next week in order for the distribution can be completed be the opening of schools in November, according to Minister Sonii.
He explained that the arm chairs were made in a special way, in order for them to last at least not less than five years.
The Education Minister cautioned school principals to ensure that maintenance is carried out whenever any one of them is broken in order for them to last long.
“This advice is necessary because so that when the government wants to do another project for public schools, it does not have to be in the area of arm chairs but in another sectors, he said; adding: “government does not have to be spending unnecessary.”
“I believed that it is over ten years since the government took the initiative of producing chairs for public schools but I am not speaking of donation by institutions or individuals.”
The Liberian Minister of Education made it clear that arm chairs have also been distributed in some of the 15 counties, especially in areas where they are highly needed. But there are some challenges in delivering because of the bad roads.
He claimed that the plan for the distribution has already been done, staring with Montserrado County and schools that are mostly in need have also been identified.
Sonii said : “The 100,000 chairs will be distributed and propositionally in every county but the most need schools will benefit from the 24,000 arm chairs now. There are chairs for kids up to six grades and there are others design for students in the senior high schools,” he said; adding: “ we have made our history now it is the time for you as school administrators to make the future that you will like to see not hate,” Prof. Sonii added.
The Education Minister warned against taking these arm chairs to private schools , community meetings, funerals or for churches; saying that “ our job is to train people to live here and the pastors task is to evangelize people for heaven therefore the chairs should not be used for religious purposes.”
Dr. Sonii also disclosed that government has made allotment for the purchase of 15 Toyota jeeps for all county education officers and motorcycles for all the district education officers in Liberia.
The ceremony was graced by the Deputy Education Minister for Administration, among others. Report by Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com