By: Ernest Kpehe Moibah | Correspondent, Bomi County
Tima Town, Gbarpolu County: Monday, September 22, 2025-The struggle for quality education in rural Liberia continues to be undermined by poor infrastructure, lack of basic facilities, and limited teaching staff. In Tima Town, Kongbah District, the Principal of Tima Public School, Mr. Edwin Bah, has sounded an urgent alarm over the unbearable challenges facing students and teachers in his institution.
Speaking in a joint interview with journalists, Principal Bah expressed deep disappointment in the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders for what he described as neglect of the school.
Leaking Roofs, No Chairs, and Bushes as Toilets
According to him, whenever it rains, classes are automatically suspended because of severe leakages in the school building, leaving children unable to learn until the sun shines again.
He further revealed that the school lacks chairs and desks, forcing students to either stand or sit on the floor during instructional hours just to take lessons. Even worse, the absence of a public latrine has left students with no option but to use nearby bushes.
“This is unacceptable. Our children are trying, but how can they be motivated to learn when they sit on the floor, run into the bush to use the toilet, and can’t come to class when it rains?” Principal Bah lamented.
Voices from the Ground
For students, the conditions are taking a serious toll. “I sit on the floor every day to write my lessons. Sometimes, my uniform gets dirty, but I have no choice,” said 12-year-old student, Massa Jallah.
“When rain comes, we just run home because water falls everywhere in the classroom. I want to learn, but it is hard this way,” added 14-year-old student, Samuel Kollie.
Parents also expressed frustration, stressing that the future of their children is at stake.
“We want our children to go to school and have better lives, but how can that happen in this condition? The government must hear our cry,” noted parent, Madam Hawa Gaye.
Fear of Losing Children Back to the Bush
The principal warned that if urgent action is not taken to address these problems, students will lose interest in education and return to farming, hunting, and mining; the traditional activities of the town.
He made a passionate appeal to the Ministry of Education, county authorities, and educational stakeholders to prioritize the full renovation of the school and provide a conducive learning environment for the children of Tima Town.
District Education Officer Confirms Dire Situation
Confirming the principal’s concerns, Mr. Willie Warnley, the District Education Officer for Kongbah, acknowledged that the challenges are real and widespread.
Warnley disclosed that his office had already conducted an assessment of Tima Public School and reported the findings to the Ministry of Education through the County Education Office.
However, he admitted that no concrete intervention has yet been taken, despite the urgency of the matter.
“We reported the condition of the school months ago, but up to now, nothing has been done. Kongbah District remains one of the most challenged areas in Gbarpolu,” Mr. Warnley said.
A Ray of Hope
Despite the bleak situation, Mr. Warnley reassured the people of Tima Town that the Ministry of Education will soon begin distributing chairs to schools across Gbarpolu County, which he believes will help reduce the seating crisis facing students.
For the residents of Tima Town, however, hope now lies in whether promises will translate into action so their children can learn in dignity rather than despair.
A National Commitment on Trial
Liberia is a signatory to UNESCO’s Education for All (EFA) initiative and has repeatedly pledged to prioritize education as a national development pillar. However, the situation in Tima Town raises questions about whether those promises are being fulfilled beyond Monrovia and other urban centers.
Though District Education Officer Warnley hinted that the Ministry will soon distribute chairs across schools in Gbarpolu, residents argue that piecemeal interventions are not enough.
They are demanding full renovation of the school, provision of teachers, latrines, and safe drinking water essentials that they say determine whether education is meaningful or not.
A Call for Action
The plight of Tima Town is not just a local issue; it is a litmus test of Liberia’s sincerity in addressing rural education disparities. Unless authorities act swiftly, residents warn, Liberia’s “Education for All pledge” risks being reduced to rhetoric, while rural children remain trapped in poverty and neglect.
