By By: Staff Writer
ZORZOR, Lofa County – Dozens of government-employed teachers in Zorzor Administrative District have accused District Education Officer (DEO) Emmanuel Zayzay of compelling them to fund renovations for the District Education Office, allegations the DEO has firmly rejected.
Speaking on condition of anonymity due to fears of retaliation, the teachers allege that staff were instructed to contribute L$1,800 for B Certificate holders and L$2,000 for those with higher qualifications toward repairs of the DEO building. Some further claimed they were barred from signing the official attendance ledger until payment was made.
Zayzay denied directly coercing teachers or blocking attendance records. He maintained that the contributions were endorsed during a meeting of school principals and are being handled by a principals’ committee, not his office directly.
“The decision was collective. When a group unanimously agrees, it becomes binding,” Zayzay said. He confirmed that government-paid teachers are expected to contribute but insisted no one was instructed to prevent non-paying staff from signing the ledger. He described educators opposing the initiative as “deviant.”
Zayzay cited the deteriorating state of the DEO facility, which he said suffers from severe leaks and has received no government funding for repairs.
The claims have sparked unease among the district’s more than 300 public school teachers across roughly 50 schools. Many argue that civil servants should not be compelled to finance repairs to government property without explicit authorization from the Ministry of Education.
The controversy surfaces as the Ministry of Education continues to crack down on unauthorized fees within Liberia’s school system. The Ministry has previously suspended education officials and administrators for imposing arbitrary charges and has repeatedly warned against unapproved levies.
As of press time, the Ministry of Education had not issued a statement clarifying whether the Zorzor renovation contributions were sanctioned.
Credit: Peter Kollie, Alternative Youth Radio
