-As hundreds of male students abandon schools in Gbapolu to attend Poro society
By Garmah Never Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com
Two female school Teachers from the Karnley Public and Gbarmah Central high schools in Gbarpolu County, northwestern Liberia have escaped from school out of fear of being forcibly initiated into the traditional Sande secret Society/Bush, www.newspublictrust.com has reliably learnt.
The Sande Bush is the traditional school for females but government restrictions have been put to its operations when normal academic school is in session across Liberia.
According to reports from the area, the two females are Joana Johnson and Marie Kanneh, who were assigned in Gbapolu County in August of this year.
Speaking to News Public Trust over the weekend, Madam Joana Johnson said the issue of hunting them to attend Sandi or tradition school has created serious fear in them, thus leaving them with no alternative to abandoned the school.
She said she and her colleague, Marie Kanneh escaped Gbarpolu County amidst pressure being placed on them to join the traditional society, as they left all their belongings where they assigned in panic and they have now moved to Monrovia for safety.
The female Teachers narrated that she think bush school should be something that one is willing to attend rather than forcing people. According to her, they have written the District Education Officer Charles Kaba to reassign them elsewhere.
The activities of the Traditional Sande and Poro societies have reportedly increased in the Gbarpolu capital, Bopolu City in recent times, leaving several schools empty.
Recently, over 1,000 male students abandoned their academic schools to attend the Poro bush school, thereby causing low enrollment in the academic schools in Gbapolu County. Many of them are said to have gone there voluntarily.
Students who are currently attending the Bush school came from elementary to senior high divisions.
Meanwhile, the District Education Officer in the area described the situation as regrettable, adding that children who should be in school learning academic activities are now in bush school learning, which is something different.
Another Educator from both the Bopolu Bibleway Mission, Mr. Aaron Dardue and authority from Methodist schools expressed that their schools were greatly affected at the result male students attending the traditional Poro society.
The two educators narrated their disappointment is that when those males students who have left school for tradition bush, their academic year will be wasted especially those students who are expected to sit for the WASSCE exams.
A traditional leader in Gbapolu County identified as Koise Gaham has defended the current status quo in the area.
He said that the same way the academic education system has curriculum, it is the same way the bush school too has curriculum.
With no regret, Mr. Gaham narrated that just as government allows academic schools to run, traditional schools should also be allowed to run their tenure.
He stated that basically, they as traditional people didn’t force anyone/child to attend but called for them to be allowed to absorb their curriculum so that students who went upon their graduation, they will be what he called, traditionally qualified.