-Amid Public School Infrastructure Crisis
By Shallon S. Gonlor
shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY, Liberia — Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono has announced plans to construct three modern public school facilities in Nimba County, following a Women Voices report that highlighted deplorable conditions at several public schools.
The proposed schools — Sanniquellie Central High School, Dahnlorpa Community Public School, and Kitoma Public School — all sit in Electoral District #2, Nimba County.
Superintendent Gono said her administration will not wait for what she described as the Ministry of Education’s overdue intervention and slow pace in addressing the deteriorating conditions of some public school facilities in the county.
She said Cavalla Resources Incorporated, a new mining company expected to operate at Kitoma Mountain in Nimba County, will finance the planned projects.
According to Superintendent Gono, the projects have already gone to the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) and are currently undergoing the public bidding process.
“I’m pleased to have forwarded three new modern schools for construction, financed by Cavalla Resources Incorporated, which will be mining at Kitoma. They are currently at the PPCC for public bidding. We will not wait for the Ministry of Education,” Gono said.
She said the decision followed the worsening conditions at several public schools and her administration’s determination to provide children across the county with safer and more conducive learning environments.
“Not under my watch as the 24th Superintendent of Nimba County will public school facilities remain in deplorable conditions, putting the education and future of our children at risk,” Gono said.
Addressing the three schools targeted for construction, she added:
“Central High, Dahnlorpa, Kitoma, I have made your case to the Nimba County Council, and Nimba has answered.”
The planned intervention comes amid growing concerns over the condition of public schools in Nimba County, particularly Dahnlorpa Community Public School in Sanniquellie.
More than 200 students from kindergarten through Grade 6 are currently learning in a single classroom after a rainstorm severely damaged the school building more than a year ago.
The rainstorm, which struck the school on May 7, 2025, ripped off much of the building’s roof, leaving seven of the school’s eight classrooms unusable.
As a result, students have crowded into one partially damaged classroom, creating severely overcrowded learning conditions.
The prolonged situation has raised concerns among parents, community members, teachers, and school authorities, who say the learning environment is inadequate and potentially unsafe for students and teachers.
School and community leaders have repeatedly appealed to education authorities and local officials for assistance, but the school has remained largely without a permanent solution.
The proposed construction of a new facility is therefore expected to provide the school with a modern structure capable of accommodating its growing student population and improving the overall learning environment.
Enrollment Surge Exposes Infrastructure Gaps in Nimba
The planned construction also comes as public schools across Nimba County face increasing pressure from a surge in student enrollment.
The enrollment increase follows the Ministry of Education’s implementation of its Free Primary Education policy for the 2026/2027 academic year, under which public schools are prohibited from charging registration fees for students from Kindergarten through Grade 6.
Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah has described primary education as compulsory under Liberia’s Education Reform Act and urged parents to enroll their children.
The minister has also warned that parents who fail to comply could face legal action in a court of competent jurisdiction.
While the policy is intended to expand access to primary education, the resulting increase in enrollment is placing additional pressure on schools that were already struggling with inadequate infrastructure.
Across Nimba County, several public schools continue to face shortages of desks and chairs, deteriorating classroom buildings, inadequate sanitation facilities, and shortages of essential teaching and learning materials.
Students Forced to Stand During Lessons
At Martha Tubman Elementary School in Sanniquellie, some students reportedly stand during lessons because the school does not have enough desks and chairs to accommodate its growing student population.
The shortage has created difficult learning conditions, with students competing for limited seating space and some remaining standing for portions of the school day.
The lack of adequate seating can make it difficult for students to concentrate, write assignments and examinations, read textbooks, and participate comfortably in classroom activities.
Across several public schools in the county, some students reportedly sit on bare floors or squeeze together on limited benches because of inadequate furniture.
Sanitation Concerns
The infrastructure challenges extend beyond classrooms and furniture.
At Mahn Diaplay Public School in Electoral District #4, students reportedly resort to open urination because the school’s latrine has deteriorated and is no longer suitable for regular use.
The situation has raised concerns about sanitation, hygiene, student safety, and the overall learning environment.
The conditions highlight the broader infrastructure challenges confronting public education in Nimba as enrollment continues to increase.
County Administration Seeks Local Solution
Superintendent Gono’s announcement represents an effort by the county administration to pursue local solutions to infrastructure challenges affecting public education.
The three proposed schools — Sanniquellie Central High School, Dahnlorpa Community Public School, and Kitoma Public School — are expected to provide improved learning environments for students in Electoral District #2.
The superintendent said her administration will continue working with stakeholders, including the Nimba County Council and private-sector partners, to address critical gaps in the county’s education infrastructure.
