By J. Peter S. Dennis, dennisrealone@gmail.com
KPATAWEE, BONG COUNTY, Liberia—The 2024/2025 academic year is supposed to be full swing, but the Gbonota Public School here in Electoral District #4 is said to be at the verge of collapse.
This school, which is the only public school in this area, is being confronted with numerous challenges that have engulfed its smooth operation and it is said to be on the verge of shutting down.
Currently, the school is battling the shortage of sitting capacity, dilapidated infrastructure, the absences of stationery supply, text books, and unsanitary bathroom. Other important things lacking here are employed government teachers, scholarship opportunities for students whose parents are impoverished, the Principal of this school has said.
Since this school was constructed in 1953, it has not experienced any renovation.
Principal Mr. Johnson D. Nkyanwoe explained that these challenges continue to confront the institution over decades and are major impediment to the effective and efficient operation of the school.
In spite of the challenges, the Gbonota Junior High School is struggling to meet the quality prescribed by the Ministry of Education with low value placed on education in the region.
An elder of the town, J. Mulbah Kpolue put the town’s population to over two thousand inhabitants.
The only Junior High School facility in the community that is in a dilapidated condition also provides educational opportunities to children from adjacent communities who walk for hours to acquire Junior Secondary education.
He told journalist, that as the result of the menace, there has been drastic reduction in the school’s enrollment.
Commenting on Teachers’ salaries, Principal Nkyanwoe said, staffers at the entity are not compensated at the end of every month, thus describing the situation as a serious embarrassment to their wellbeing.
“You see these qualified and energetic people aren’t taking any from Government to cater to their families. For years, they keep volunteering at the expense of their families. … It’s only passion and motivation keeping them into the classroom. We keep appealing, but things aren’t working,” Mr. Nkyanwoe stated.
He expressed fear that the institution may come to a standstill this academic year if nothing is done by the central government.
The Gbonota public school principal wants the government through the Ministry of Education, USAID and IREX-Liberia- a nongovernmental organization that is in the vanguard of driving tangibles through education for schools across Liberia to remedy their mournful situation.
Meanwhile, the Liberian educator is at the same time calling on Bong County Legislative Caucus Chairperson, Senator Prince Kermue Moye, to fulfill major promises made to them during the electoral period.
Mr. Johnson Nkyanwoe disclosed that the Bong County Senator pledged to construct an auditorium, provide 10 bundles of zinc, one hundred (100) bags of cement and one thousand (1000) United States Dollars. These promises, Nkyanwoe says, were made during the 2023 general elections.
The office of Senator Moye hasn’t spoken to the issue.
Poor road
Road connectivity is also a major problem for residents of the town and adjacent areas.
An elder Mr. J. Mulbah Kpolue expressed complete disappointment of the current condition of the Phebe-Gonota road.
He described the road as a death trap for commuters.
Due to the increased inaccessibility, the Gbonota elder noted that they are being over charged by drivers and motorcyclists.
“Let me tell you, the road as you can see is very bad. No car is even willing to easily ply on it because of its condition. The few ones are over charging us. We have to pay because of our goods and other basic utensils that are procured out of the town” elder Kpolue stated.
“… Even you pay; most of our goods will spoil before reaching in the market due to the bad road. We have cried for years, but none has been done to address the current condition. We are frustrated and we need help” he lamented.
Reliably, many Bongese ply the road to Gbarpolu County thus making it inaccessible for them during the sun and the rain.
He then called on the Ministry of Public Works to intervene.
Appeals for hand pump
At the same time, the Gonota elder has pleaded with the county’s administration to aid the area with additional hand pump.
Accordingly, there is only a hand pump in the town thus putting a constraint on the over two thousand residents in the area to manage.
Elder J. Mulbah Kpolue explained that due to the immense tension on the lone hand pump, many inhabitants fetch water from the creek thus leading to water borne illnesses.