Lawmaker opposes February school opening

Montserrado County Electoral district # 9 Representative Munnah Pelhem Youngblood has opposed the reopening of schools in February.

Representative Youngblood said the early opening of schools will pose serious problem for some parents, especially those who don’t have the financial means immediately.

The Montserrado County lawmaker stressed that parents need time to be financially prepared for the reopening of schools, adding that even teachers need to be trained on how to contain the Ebola virus.

“We still have Ebola in this country; I think it will be necessary for schools to be reopened in March of this year”, she suggested.

Rep. Youngblood noted that there is still more to do in eradicating the Ebola virus, noting that both private and government school teachers and principals should be taught how to deal with students on school campuses to avoid clustering.

She made the statement on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 in a radio talk show hosted on Hot FM.

The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Education recently announced that registration for academic 2015/16 starts on Monday, January 12 and classes commences on February 2, 2015.

Deputy Education Minister for Instructions, Madam Hawa Goll-Kotchi, made the pronouncement at a regular press briefing hosted by the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism in Monrovia.

Minister Goll-Kotchi said the Ministry has prepared three academic calendars for the resumption of school any time in January, February or March.

She detailed that registration will run from January 12-17th   to be followed by orientation  for teachers January 17-19th and final preparation for schools, January 26-31, while classes officially resumes on February 2, 2015.

She said it is mandatory that all schools take precaution of the deadly Ebola virus, and that both public and private schools will have thermometers at their various entrances to test students’ temperature, including chlorinated water for hands washing to help stop spread of the Ebola virus.

She said the ministry will monitor all schools to make sure these measures observed.

“If it will cause all my staff to go out and monitor the schools, I will send them”, the Deputy Minister said.

By Lewis S. Teh