MCSS Students protest for better education as police shut them down with teargas
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, – A peaceful student protest turned chaotic on Tuesday after Liberia National Police (LNP) officers fired tear gas at demonstrators demanding improved welfare for teachers and better conditions for schools under the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS). Tuesday, March 25, 2025, marked day two of the students’ protest.
The students accused the government of depriving them of their right to education. Their protest was met with a heavy-handed police response, leaving dozens affected by tear gas as tensions flared. After being initially blocked by Capitol Police from entering the legislative grounds, student leaders managed to present a petition to lawmakers at the back of the Capitol Building.
Presenting their petition to lawmakers, including Montserrado County District #8 Representative Prince Toles, the student leader noted: “For too long, we have suffered in silence while those in power ignore the cries of students and teachers. We have been patient, we have been hopeful—but now our patience has run out. The time for talking is over. We demand action.”
The student leader emphasized that their teachers had abandoned classrooms not by choice but due to the government’s neglect. “We are giving you 48 hours to resolve this crisis and ensure that our teachers return to the classrooms. Our schools are in crisis. Our teachers, the very foundation of our education have abandoned the classrooms not because they want to but because the government has left them with no other choice. How can they continue to teach when they can not even feed their own families?” he asked.
He added that their engagement with the House is not because they are unaware of their plight but because they are the direct representatives of the people and they have the authority to quiz the requisite authorities.
The situation escalated when students demanded the release of arrested colleagues before continuing with the presentation of their petition.
Upon taking their leader from before the lawmakers who had gone to accept the petition, tear gas was fired and tension heightened. Some of the protesting students began resisting by throwing stones and this led to a total escalation with several students. The clashes spread, affecting bystanders—including University of Liberia students uninvolved in the demonstration.
Initially, they were demanding to present their petition to lawmakers on the grounds of the Capitol but were prevented by Capitol police. The students then staged staging protest on the main road to draw the action of lawmakers. Also during the protest, James A.S. Momoh, MCSS boss was chased away from the protest scene by students.
Prominent Figures Condemn Government Response:
Prominent Liberian voices are rallying behind student protesters demanding better conditions for teachers and schools, while sharply criticizing the government’s mismanagement of public funds.
Anderson Miamen, Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), voicedstrong support for students protesting the neglect of Liberia’s education system. He wrote via his Facebook page on Tuesday, I stand with the protesting students; they deserve better treatment,”* while urging
peaceful demonstrations. He criticized the government’s unequal spending, noting that while teachers earn less than $200 a month, officials receive exorbitant payments—including nearly $500,000 to a former Central Bank governor.
Miamen highlighted the stark disparities in Liberia’s budget allocations, questioning why public school teachers struggle with poverty while high-ranking officials enjoy lavish salaries. “We can pay $25,000 to one government official but under $200 to teachers.
The country’s money should work for everyone—not just a privileged few,” he argued. Anderson Miamen, “Few people should not feel entitled to the nation’s wealth,”* Miamen asserted, reinforcing demands for reform.
Renowned lawyer Moriah Yeakula-Korpor defended the students’ right to demonstrate, stating: “Protest is better than riot. Sitting in traffic from demonstrations is preferable to dealing with violent unrest. The government only worsens its image by tear-gassing and arresting peaceful protesters.” She emphasized that the solution is simple: “Pay the teachers their salaries, and the protests will end.”
The criticism was reverberated by Netherlands-based Liberian activist Martin K.N. Kollie, who revealed stark budget disparities: *”While teachers struggle on $150 monthly salaries – with thousands not even on payroll – the government is spending over $40 million just in 2024-25 to buy luxury vehicles, fuel, and maintenance for officials.”* Both advocates argue these spending choices reveal dangerously misplaced priorities in Liberia’s education sector.
Later on Tuesday, several of the students arrested during the protest were released by Police. They were apprehended during the violent scene that resulted in the firing of tear gas by police and the throwing of stones by students. The students have maintained that they will continue their actions until the government addresses their plights.
Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS) operates across Liberia with a network of seven branches strategically located to serve various communities. Each branch is tasked with providing quality education and fostering a supportive learning environment for students. These branches are essential in extending educational opportunities and resources across different regions of Liberia, ensuring that students have access to comprehensive learning experiences that meet their academic needs.
Gov’t Intervenes:
Following the students’ protest, a high-level meeting involving the Ministry of Finance & Development Planning (MFDP), Civil Service Agency (CSA), and the Ministry of Education was convened on Tuesday at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Finance, Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and attended by the Minister of Education and Co-Chair of the MCSS Board, Dr. Jarso Jallah and the Director General of the CSA, Dr. Josiah F. Joekai as well as relevant officials from the three institutions.
After a period of deliberation, it was decided that to ensure that the CSA Payroll is not unnecessarily bloated and quality in the MCSS schools is not sacrificed, the Civil Service Agency will immediately deploy teams of verifiers across all MCSS schools to vet and validate the list of volunteer teachers presented by the MCSS Superintendent.
The verification will be conducted over a three-week period and all those deemed as duly vetted will be regularized on the Government of Liberia Payroll and will thereafter receive all benefits as regular teachers within the public school system.
The Government calls on all MCSS teachers and students to resume classes as government takes actions to address issues and challenges within the MCSS.
Understanding The MCSS:
The Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS) concisely provides primary and secondary education to the population of the Monrovia metropolitan area, Liberia. The MCSS was established by government charter in 1964 under the Act to Amend the Education Law to Create the Monrovia Consolidated School System.
Before the creation of the MCSS, schools in Monrovia were individually administered by principals reporting directly to the Ministry of Education. A Memorandum of Understanding, the preliminary step to the establishment of the system, was signed on 28 February 1963.
The MCSS schools are: William V. S Tubman (10th to 12th Grade), G. W. Gibson (10th to 12th Grade), (D. Twe High School (10th to 12th Grade), Pipeline Jr. & Sr. High (10th to 12th Grade), Boatswain High (10th to 12th Grade), and Central High (10th grade). Monday and Tuesday protests were led by students of the William V. S Tubman Hogh School.
