On Wednesday, Feb. 5, public school teachers gathered at the Ministry of Education in the Liberian city of Sinkor to demand back pay from the government. The teachers allege that they have not been paid since their appointment in August of 2012 and are owed more than LD$300,000 (about $3,500) each. Rancy Kenneh, a spokesperson for the teachers, said that they were initially recruited and trained by the Ministry of Education at facilities across the country. “Upon our graduation from these institutions, we were in August 2012 sent to work at various government schools, especially those in rural areas, as principals and teachers; but the government has failed to pay us for the services we rendered and [are] still rendering,” he added. Officials from the ministry did not comment on the situation.
The Liberian government has had serious problems in the education sector in the last year. In December 2013, the University of Liberia suspended all classes after students began protesting and pressuring provost Madam Wade Elliot Brownell to resign. Two years ago, teachers in Monrovia went on strike demanding higher pay. Teachers went on strike again in 2013. Without a stable economic climate, the country has been unable to keep workers happy and paid. It is unlikely that this will be the last incident in this continuing trend in Liberia.
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Written by Alex Leedom