No test, no job

Ellen to Teachers
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has made it mandatory that “all teachers” must take an aptitude test in order to get qualification and certification, warning that failure to sit the test would put teachers out of jobs. 

“Ok, you know all the teachers supposed to go take test right? And some of [you] resisting? Please go and take the test. If you trust yourself, if you got confidence in yourself, you take the test -you pass the test, you will get qualification. You will get certification. [If] you [don’t] take the test, then you’re out of job,” she said last Thursday.

Mrs. Sirleaf was touring road and bridge projects in Montserrado and Margibi Counties when she stumbled over students at the Kparkparkpon Public School in Marshall, outside a looted school building holding palm thatches to welcome her when she made the mandate.

During an interaction with a community school’s Vice Principal, Mr. Meshac Goah and his students in Marshall, Margibi County 14 April, President Sirleaf told teachers that if they trust and have confidence in themselves, they must take the test.

But in response to Mrs. Sirleaf’s inquiry with Mr. Goah if his teachers at the Kparkparkpon Public School in Marshall had gone for the test, he said the teacher’s names have been presented to the District Education Officer or DEO, saying they will sit the test if it reaches them.

“No, for us, we are not resisting. We will go when they come to us we will go for the test,” he told the president.  He had earlier complained to President Sirleaf over how alleged criminals looted the school acility, taking away everything, including doors, books and chalk.

Mr. Goah said the unfortunate incident happened on Sunday, 10 April 2016, and discovery was made on Monday, 11 April when they returned to school after the weekend.  Though he said the school administration continues to encourage teachers and students to go to school, he indicated, however, that the criminals had left the school in an embarrassing situation.

He, meanwhile, told President Sirleaf that out of 11 teachers in the school, five are not on payroll, but rendering volunteery services. He said the names of the five teachers’ have been sent to the DEO.  The news of the looting of the school, however, was captured by the President, as she asked her officials to take note of the institution’s plight before her departure.

She was welcomed on the campus by students holding palm thatches along the road near the campus.

By Winston W. Parley-Edited by George Barpeen