CSA Warns Against Planned Disruption of Learning Activities at Public Universities

By: Ernest Moibah| Bomi County Correspondent

‎Monrovia, September 27, 2025 – The Civil Service Agency (CSA) has issued a stern warning to faculty members at Liberia’s public universities and colleges, cautioning them against any action that could disrupt teaching and learning activities.

‎‎In a circular addressed to the presidents of public universities and colleges, CSA Director General Dr. Josiah F. Joekai expressed grave concern over reports of a planned nationwide “go-slow” by faculty members who fall under the CSA’s oversight.

‎“While the motives for the planned action remain unclear, such a move would be counterproductive and harmful to students and the nation’s education system,” Dr. Joekai warned.

‎The CSA reminded all faculty members that, as civil servants, they are bound by the Civil Service Agency Human Resource Policy Manual and the Standing Orders of the Civil Service. It emphasized that grievances must be channeled through appropriate mechanisms designed to address concerns in a lawful and professional manner.

‎Dr. Joekai further cautioned that any instructor or professor who abandons duty or fails to perform assigned responsibilities will face administrative measures consistent with civil service regulations.

‎This warning comes at a time of heightened tension within Liberia’s higher education sector. At Bomi Community College (BCC) and other rural institutions, students and parents have frequently expressed frustration over recurring interruptions caused by industrial actions.

BCC President Dr. Zobong Norman openly criticized the ongoing strike and the faculty’s approach, arguing that their actions jeopardize the academic future of students.

‎‎“Faculty leaders are ignoring their responsibility to protect the interests of students, many of whom now face an uncertain academic future,” Dr. Norman said.

‎‎The Rural Universities and Colleges Faculty Association of Liberia (RUCFAL) recently launched an indefinite nationwide strike over what it describes as inadequate salaries and benefits from the Government of Liberia.

‎The strike, which began on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, has already crippled academic activities at institutions across the country, leaving thousands of students stranded and anxious about the fate of their academic calendar.

‎The CSA’s firm stance underscores the government’s determination to avert a potential breakdown in higher education—an outcome that could have far-reaching consequences for Liberia’s human resource development and the future of thousands of young people.