Ahead Of School Reopening In Weeks

PHOTO: Perkins E.T. Boye, President of the US Disabled Students Association

By Kelvin Gonlah

Once again another academic year is about to open at the state owned University of Liberia and students with disabilities say the problem of inaccessible classrooms, bathrooms and transportation continue to persist, despite many appeals made over the years.

As the UL academic year 2023-2024 just few weeks away, the President of the Disabled Students Association, Perkins E.T. Boye has again called on the University’s administration to swiftly put measures in place to ease the harsh learning condition students with disabilities have continued to face. Before classes begin.

UL disabled students urging equal opportunities and right to inclusive education at the state-run university, a call that is yet to be taken into consideration, despite a peaceful protest staged by disabled student on the UL Capitol Hill campus in March this year, demanding improvement in the learning environment.

Mr. Boye said the prevailing condition at the highest government institution of higher learning is causing serious impediments for students with disabilities and it is impeding their academic sojourn.

In a recent interview, via telephone, the head of the UL Disabled Students Association told this Reporter that since the UL authorities promised to provide accessible classrooms, bathroom facilities and transportation, nothing has been done and they continue to face serious challenges.

“We think the UL administration is foot-dragging, we will need more determination or intentional steps to address these issues of accessibility. For example, the day before yesterday, I spoke with the center on inclusive learning at the University of Liberia (UL) and I was told that some efforts have been made as regards to some of those ramps. Somewhere in August, we lunched a ramp project on the campuses of the University of Liberia (UL) that is been funded by Orange Liberia GSM Company through our advocates; we were informed last week that some of those projects have been completed and extended invitation to do some assessments on the project that is ongoing at the UL campuses,” said Mr. Perkins ET Boye.

“We saw key government officials like Senator Dillons and Patrick Honnah celebrating the graduation ceremony of Beatrice Snyder a disabled students who recently graduated from the University of Liberia; they were all celebrating her achievement. They didn’t see the struggle she was going through during her academic sojourn at UL, but rather they were celebrating the result of the struggle. They were imposition to provide a suitable environment for Beatrice Snyder during her stay at UL, it was so unbearable for her as disabled student. There were countless aids that instructors turned her down, and discrimination was rampant, she felt that she could no longer stood her group to continue her education,” the head of the UL Disabled Students Association President explained.

At the same time, the UL students with disabilities want the University of Liberia Administration to implore mechanism that seeks to address the challenges they are currently facing to commute to and from on campuses.

“I have heard conversation about part of the dormitory be provided to we students with disabilities in other to ease the burden of transportation. It is unfathomable why up to now that is not a reality. I also call on the UL administration to acquire assistive technology, collaborate with relevant stakeholders to procure assistive devices such as hearing aids, disabilities are hard of hearing and visual impairment. You must include and allocate resources in the University of Liberia’s budget to support accessibility efforts through rehabilitating key infrastructure to address the needs of students with disabilities and ensure that new infrastructures are built with disabilities features at the University,”, UL disabled students’ president indicated.

According to Mr. Boye, the University of Liberia (UL) campuses have a single bathroom facilities, no transportation and accessible class rooms for disabled students since they made their quests to the UL administration in March of this year which hampers their education. He added that the University of Liberia is not doing much to address these concerns raised by them few months ago during their protest.

“I have never shy away from speaking against the ills at the UL and I’m not afraid, you have to maintain your advocates, there is no way we are going to shy away from what we been speaking about at UL; we will ensure that the right things are done for the generosity of the student. Our disappointment is that the University is recalcitrant; is delaying the progress that should have been made in terms of accessibility. The center that was created at the University of Liberia to address issues that affect students with disabilities, that center remains underfunded and our case was used at the national legislature to increase the University of Liberia budget. What tangible support have they given towards accessibility? That remains unanswered,”,the disabled students’ leader added.

Some disabled students spend about LD 1500 daily to get on Kehkeh to come on campuses. The administration should see reason to address some of those issues like transportation, accessible bathroom facilities, and classes for disabled students before classes begin for this academic year 2023/2024, according to the President of the UL Disabled Students Association.

“If you go to University like AMEU, they are doing much better than the University of Liberia because they provide accessibility for disabled students. As per our record, visual impairment students find it very difficult to enroll at the University of Liberia”, Mr. Boye averred.

He added:

“I want to highlight the issue of inadequate sitting capacity. It is disheartening to note that we students with disabilities are forced to endure uncomfortable and inadequate seating arrangements. The truth of the matter is that the University of Liberia is overly crowded, evident by the fact that students tote chairs on their heads from one class after another. It is not a hiding secret. The question is: can students with disabilities move chairs from one place to another? The question is no. We disabled students are left standing, only at the mercy of students who will see reason to assist in good fate. This not only hampers our ability to concentrate and learn but also sends a message that our needs, well-being and providing for us a conducive learning environment are not a priority for the UL Administration, or they reneged on their responsibilities because we have not spoken out.”