-Poor Sanitation, Seating Greet Students As Free Primary Education Increases Enrollment in Nimba
By Shallon S. Gonlor
shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY, Liberia — A surge in student enrollment at public schools across Nimba County has exposed severe infrastructure gaps, leaving thousands of children without desks, chairs, and decent sanitation facilities
The enrollment spike follows the Ministry of Education’s reform of its Free Primary Education policy. Beginning with the 2026/2027 academic year, the ministry barred public schools from charging registration fees for students from Kindergarten through Grade 6.
Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah has declared primary education compulsory under Liberia’s Education Reform Act. She urged parents to enroll their children, warning that those who fail to comply could face legal action in a court of competent jurisdiction.
But the influx of students is straining schools that were already struggling. Like other parts of the country, some schools in Nimba County are still struggling with dilapidated buildings, inadequate desks and chairs, poor sanitation facilities, and shortages of essential teaching and learning supplies.
Students Stand During Lessons
At Martha Tubman Elementary School in Sanniquellie, the county’s capital, some students stand during lessons because the school lacks enough chairs and desks to seat its growing population.
At Mahn Diaplay Public School in Electoral District #4, students prefer urinating in open spaces rather than using the school’s latrine, which has fallen into disrepair.
Parent Urges Donors to Prioritize Furniture
Jerome Saye, a parent and classroom teacher at New Sanniquellie High School, is calling on philanthropists, humanitarian organizations, community leaders and other education supporters to provide desks and chairs for students.
Saye acknowledged donors who supply copybooks, pens, pencils and other learning materials, but said public schools need broader support. “Our students do not only need pens, pencils and copybooks. They need a place to sit,” Saye said. He urged education supporters to make school furniture a priority in future donations.
Across several public schools in Nimba County, students attend classes without adequate seating. Some sit on bare floors, while others squeeze onto the few available benches. The shortage makes it difficult for students to concentrate, write assignments and examinations, read textbooks, and participate comfortably in classroom activities.
Saye stressed that he is not asking donors to stop providing learning materials. Instead, he wants them to expand their support to include the basic infrastructure and furniture that make those materials useful.
He called on philanthropists to supplement donations of consumable learning materials with investments in desks, chairs, classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and sanitation facilities.
