By Amos Harris
Monrovia, Liberia – June 14, 2025 – While the Ministry of Education extends effusive congratulations to 12th-grade students for successfully completing the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), a stark and troubling contradiction persists across Liberia’s educational landscape: countless students continue to sit on bare, dusty floors to learn.
In a nation where the very act of seeking an education often means enduring hours squatting on concrete, the celebratory pronouncements from the Ministry of Education strike a discordant note. Minister of Education Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah issued a flowery message, commending the “resilience” and “academic integrity” of these students. However, critics question: where is the integrity in a system that systematically denies its students the most basic classroom necessities—chairs, desks, and decent infrastructure?
Undeniably, the 12th graders deserve every recognition for their efforts. Yet, what true meaning can be ascribed to praising their “discipline and courage” when their learning takes place under conditions that are, quite frankly, inhumane? Across Liberia, from the bustling capital of Montserrado to the remote southeastern counties, countless schools are little more than dilapidated structures. Many suffer from leaking roofs, broken blackboards, and a complete absence of furniture. In some classrooms, the only constant companion for students is the floor—a testament solely to their unwavering will to learn.
This situation transcends mere oversight; it is a profound national shame. The Ministry of Education’s celebratory tone, in such stark contrast to the painful daily reality faced by thousands of students, compels a serious national introspection: Where do we stand as a nation? What future are we truly promising these young minds when we consistently fail to provide even the simplest tools essential for their education?
Instead of scripted speeches and well-worded congratulatory messages, the Liberian public is demanding urgent, visible action. The call is clear: build proper schools, equip classrooms adequately, and prioritize education with tangible investments that extend far beyond ceremonial praise.
If Liberia genuinely aspires to “keep building with purpose,” then the era of empty rhetoric must conclude. The time has come to translate words into deeds: to get our children off the floor and onto chairs, into real, conducive classrooms, and into the promising future they unequivocally deserve.
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