By Amos Harris
Residents of Henry Town in Korninga Chiefdom, Bopolu District, Gbarpolu County, are raising serious concerns over what they describe as years of neglect at the Henry Town Public School (HTPS), the only junior high school serving the area. School administrators, students, and parents report that the institution is facing severe operational hurdles driven by a total lack of government support, inadequate teaching materials, and failing educational infrastructure.
Speaking to reporters, Vice Principal for Administration M. Obadiah Meisa described the situation as alarming, stressing that the school has been struggling to operate without any meaningful assistance from national or local authorities. According to Meisa, Henry Town Public School was established in 2012 to provide vital educational opportunities for children in the remote community and surrounding villages. The institution currently offers classes from ABC through Grade Nine, making it a critical regional educational center for hundreds of young people.
Despite its importance, Meisa revealed that the school has received little to no direct support from the Ministry of Education since its establishment more than a decade ago. While the school operates under the government’s tuition-free education policy, students are still required to pay standard registration fees. However, the administration notes that all registration fees collected are deposited directly into a Ministry of Education account, leaving the school with virtually no independent resources to address pressing daily operational needs.
Meisa lamented that the lack of basic teaching and learning materials has created immense difficulties for both faculty and students. Furthermore, enrollment at the school has plummeted over the years, dropping from approximately 300 students to around 100 currently attending classes. The vice principal attributed this decline partly to increased mining activities in the county, which have driven many families to relocate in search of quick economic opportunities. He also revealed that male students currently outnumber female students at the institution, a shifting trend that educators say requires urgent attention from policymakers and development partners.
School authorities are equally concerned about the future of students who successfully complete Grade Nine at the institution. Because there is no nearby senior high school within easy reach of the community, many graduates face enormous challenges in continuing their education. Students seeking to advance their studies must travel to Bopolu City or other distant areas—a journey that many families simply cannot afford due to high transportation costs and deep economic hardships. Consequently, some students discontinue their education entirely after junior high, severely limiting their opportunities for personal development and future employment.
Parents and community leaders are expressing deep disappointment with their elected officials, accusing lawmakers of failing to prioritize education in the district. Residents claim that senators and representatives rarely provide assistance to the school, alleging that politicians only return to the community during election periods to seek political support. This criticism reflects a growing nationwide frustration among citizens who believe that education in rural communities continues to receive inadequate attention despite repeated campaign promises.
Faced with these compounding crises, school authorities are urgently appealing to the Ministry of Education, local lawmakers, development partners, and humanitarian organizations to intervene. They are calling for immediate infrastructure support, teaching materials, and educational resources to ensure that Henry Town Public School can continue to serve the children of Korninga Chiefdom and the wider Bopolu District.
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