“Lack of Lodging and Transportation is Impeding School Supervision”: Says DEO Hawa Sheriff

By Ernest Kpehe Moibah| Bomi County Correspondent

“I commute daily from Monrovia to Bomi to do this job,” she said with visible frustration. “This is not sustainable. How can we monitor schools, improve teaching, or enforce standards if we are exhausted before the day even begins?”, DEO Hawa Sheriff decried lack of basic logistics.

Bomi County District Education Officer (DEO) Hawa Sheriff says her ability to effectively oversee schools is being crippled by two glaring challenges: the absence of lodging facilities and reliable transportation.

Speaking to an audience of principals and district leaders on September 3, 2025, Sheriff painted a picture of an education system where oversight is hampered not by a lack of commitment, but by the lack of basic lodging and transportation needs.

“Functional education system cannot thrive if supervisors have nowhere to stay near their duty stations and no vehicles to travel to far-flung schools”, DEO Sheriff emphasized. She appealed for the construction of staff quarters and for transportation that would allow DEOs to perform regular visits and ensure quality instruction.

Sheriff further noted that this situation is not unique to Dewoin District alone but affects other districts across Bomi County, including Senjeh, Klay, Tehr, and Suehn Mecca, where DEOs face similar constraints.

In a bold challenge to current education priorities, Sheriff urged the Ministry of Education (MOE) and development partners to rethink the celebrated plan to build 100 new school facilities nationwide. Instead, she called for upgrading existing schools and providing resources that directly address urgent bottlenecks like the lack of housing for teachers and supervisors.

“These children deserve better,” Sheriff said firmly. “And we, the people responsible for shaping their future, also deserve the tools to do our jobs effectively.”

Her remarks sparked strong reactions from school leaders in attendance. “We see her struggle every day,” said Saye Dolo, Principal of Sass Town Public School. “If the DEO can’t even stay in the district, how can she effectively supervise us? This is a problem that must be fixed.”

Mrs. Brown, Principal of Jenneh Public School, added: “The issue is not about building more schools for show. It’s about making sure the schools we already have are functional, with teachers and supervisors supported to do their work.”

As Liberia continues its push for nationwide educational reform, Sheriff’s plea and the shared plight of DEOs across Bomi stand as a reminder: quality education doesn’t just require classrooms, it requires people on the ground that can stay, move, and lead.