HAL leads campaign against corruption in schools

Hope Aliens Liberia or HAL has started a campaign to combat corruptionand all other forms of bribery in Liberian schools. TheExecutive Director of HAL Benedict Quato said 24 high schools are being targeted in Nimba, Grand Bassa and Montserrado Counties, respectively mainly from 4th to 11thgrade.

Speaking on UNMIL Radio Tuesday, he said bribery in schools is polluting the society andthe minds of Liberian youth, nothing they are targeting 4th and 11th graders because 12th graders are already on their way out.

Mr. Quato said the goal is to nurture national leaders, who will uphold transparency in order to protect the country’s nationalresources. He stressed the need to transform the minds of young people so that they can be able to lead effectively in the future.

According to him, corruption is killing the country so HAL has embarked on this exercise encourage a mind change among students in order to eliminate bribery and sexual harassment in schools.

The executive director said teachers in the habit ofapproaching female students for sex in exchange for grades are nothelping the pupils, but destroying their future. He said a follow-up is made to schools after the exercise to getfeedback and ensure those bad habits are kept in check, adding that parents really welcome the idea and want the campaign to continue because it is reallyhelping to protect their children’s future for a better Liberia.

He said in some schools, children were able to tell theirstories how they have been sexual harassed or how teachers askedthem for money to trade grades.

By Ethel A. Tweh-Editing by Jonathan Browne