By: Peter Dennis
dennisrealone@gmail.com

IPNews-Monrovia: A group under the banner “Bong Concerned Students Alliance (BOCONSA)” has petitioned the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Education to reopen schools across the country for all students and not only 12th graders.

The Concerned Students Alliance also gave the ministry of Education seven days to reopen; with a threat to stage a peaceful protest till their demand is fully met.

Since June 29 up to present, 12th graders in 707 senior high schools across the country have returned to schools to ensure that they get on path with other West African Senior students ahead of the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in August of this year.

In a press conference on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, in Gbarnga at the Ministry of Education local office, the group stressed the need for the government to open schools to all students maintaining that it does not make any sense when schools are opened only to 12th graders and not to all.

“We see this not just as a violation of the universal Declaration of Human Rights but also as an attempt to undermine the reformed education act of August 8, 2011” Ansumana Abraham Bility, the Chairman of the group pointed out.

“In recognition of the vital role education plays on a wholesome scale can contribute to social-economic development and poverty alleviation; for some weeks now, senior students (12th graders) have been benefiting a partial program considered as “Preparation for the WASSCE” thus leaving the majority school-goers home and doing nothing. We think that this is not the right way to treat our fellow colleagues so we want the government to act now,” Chairman Bility continued.

According to him, they want the government to reopen schools for all students instituting similar measures currently in place for 12th graders to enhance a wholesome functioning system of education, conduct a nationwide parents, students and teachers conversation to formulate a workable way these measures can be implemented and the government should institute an effective supervision arm for the monitoring of the recommended healthcare protocols in all schools across the country.

The release noted that since the closure of schools over three months, there has been unintended and unmeasured consequences by students; including Rapid increase in teenage pregnancies, increase in gender-based violence and rape, increase in gambling amongst young students, increase in community-based violence, increase in criminal activities, among others.

The group also maintained that the government needs to ensure the production and distribution of reusable nose and face masks to all school facilities across the Country and stop spending resources on a pointless initiative like “Learning by radio program” that is not impacting the student populace taking into consideration the number of students or households that listen to radio on a daily basis is very low particularly people in the rural areas.

The release under the signatures of its secretary general Emmanuel Gesee and chairman Ansumana Abraham Bility was attended by scores of other young students in Gbarnga.

Meanwhile, Bong County Education Officer Rev. Armah N’Debah Varfee received the students’ petition and promised to communicate with his bosses for further actions.