Monrovia, Liberia – Students from public schools demonstrated in the streets of Monrovia on Tuesday, March 25, against their instructors’ go-slow behavior, which is connected to the government’s nonpayment of teacher wages. The Liberia National Police have come under fire for using tear gas to disperse the students. As a result of the police tear gas, many students were in anguish, and some of them were powerless in the tumultuous situation.
The demonstration, which shut down the key roadways between the Executive Mansion and the Capitol Building, was sparked by students’ mounting annoyance over the persistent problem of underpaid instructors, which they claim is negatively affecting their education.
In order to ensure that their instructors are fairly compensated and that the standard of education does not continue to decline, the students demanded that the government immediately put their teachers on the payroll.
As the situation worsened, the Liberia National Students’ Union (LINSU) released a statement denouncing the government for its ongoing disregard for the education sector. The union voiced its displeasure with the government’s disregard for important problems like unequal pay, subpar school environment, and a shortage of essential teaching supplies. LINSU argued that the government’s inactivity is an assault on Liberia’s youth’s future.
Additionally, LINSU alleged that the government prioritizes corruption over education, arguing that public officials continue to abuse state resources while kids suffer in deteriorating classrooms. The Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS) students have taken to the streets to demand improved circumstances, and the union has expressed strong support for them.
