Tienpo Dartuken Public School Closes Due to Teacher Shortage in River Gee

By: Ben TC Brooks| River Gee County Correspondent

River Gee County – Tuesday, June 17, 2025 – Tienpo Dartuken Public School in River Gee County has officially closed for the 2024/2025 school year due to a severe shortage of teachers and educational resources.

The school is located in the Tienpo district, recognized for its gold mining activities and represented by Alexander Poure. It is situated about 67 kilometers from Fish Town, the county’s capital.

Acting Principal Mr. Michael K. Doe, who has filled the role since his retirement in 2019, conveyed that the school cannot operate without sufficient teaching staff. Although over 150 students were enrolled this year, all have withdrawn, leaving the community without educational options amid the teacher shortage.

Local residents are urgently appealing to the Ministry of Education and their district representative for swift action. Parents are particularly concerned that the closure of the school may lead some children to work in nearby gold mines, exposing them to child labor and further reducing their educational opportunities.

Many other schools in River Gee County have also closed due to similar teacher shortages and worsening infrastructure conditions.

This growing crisis underscores the urgent need for government efforts to enhance rural education, recruit qualified teachers, and upgrade school facilities to prevent an entire generation from being deprived of education.

The Ministry of Education’s 2022 School Census indicates that River Gee County is home to approximately 23,000 students, with around 19,000 in public schools supported by 711 teachers across 103 institutions.

Of the 472 available classrooms in the county, only 154 are deemed safe to use.

Regarding basic necessities, only 34 out of 84 public schools have access to potable water, and merely 8 schools have student restrooms.

The current teacher-student ratio stands at 1:32, which translates to a maximum of 7 teachers for every 225 students, highlighting the urgent need for systemic reform and improved resource allocation, not only from the government but also within local communities.

Given the critical situation in River Gee County, there is an immediate need for the community to advocate for better conditions for local schoolchildren.

National Budget Allocation for the Ministry of Education (2019-2025)

From 2019 to 2025, the Liberian Legislature has allocated a total of $6.74 million for purchasing furniture and fixtures for public schools across the nation. Of this amount, $2.9 million was set aside in 2019 and 2022, with only $1.008 million spent.

For 2024 and 2025, $3.8 million has been earmarked, but the Ministry of Finance has only released $1.4 million so far.

This inadequate allocation is unacceptable, considering the pressing needs of students still remain unmet.

Edited: Jesefu Morris Keita| Editor-In-Chief