By By: Alphanso G. Kalama;
Monrovia, Liberia – In a sharply worded statement, the Vanguard Student Unification Party (SUP) a student group has issued a warning to both the University of Liberia administration and the government of Liberia, demanding that classes resume as scheduled on November 18, 2024, or face an unprecedented student-led revolt. The statement, released by SUP on Monday, accuses the University of Liberia Faculty Association (ULFA) and university administration of orchestrating delays that are putting the future of over 22,000 students at risk.
The SUP, a major student group, calls for the immediate reopening of the university, denouncing the ongoing political maneuvering and alleged attempts to delay the resumption of classes. According to SUP, the faculty association has threatened to extend the closure of the university, citing unresolved issues related to salaries and university renovations. However, SUP maintains that these issues should not prevent students from attending classes, branding the delays as “selfish” and politically motivated.
“This time, we will not tolerate any more delays. We are going back to school on November 18, and anyone—be it the administration or the Faculty Association—who stands in our way will face the wrath of the student body,” declared Sylvester Wheeler, Chairman of the SUP.
The press release highlights what they describe as the “cat-and-mouse game” between ULFA and the university administration, accusing both of neglecting the interests of the students for the sake of personal and political agendas. The group also referenced the controversial decision to keep the university closed for six months under the guise of renovations, which SUP claims were a “political strategy” to further delay the academic calendar.
SUP’s rhetoric has intensified in recent months, with the group openly accusing the government of President Joseph Boakai of colluding with the university and faculty leaders to “hinder the destiny” of the students. The statement warns that if the university does not reopen as planned, students will mobilize across Monrovia in an endless series of protests.
“The students will not compromise their education for the benefit of selfish interests. If the administration and ULFA fail to respect the November 18 date, they should stay away from campus. We will take it from here,” said chairman Wheeler.
The group’s bold stance comes on the heels of growing academic unrest at the University of Liberia, where ongoing disputes between the administration and the faculty have resulted in repeated delays and cancellations of academic terms. SUP has accused ULFA of using these disputes as leverage for salary increases, while students, who are already facing significant economic hardships, are left to deal with the consequences.
In addition to calling for the university’s immediate reopening, SUP also invokes Article 6 of the Liberian Constitution, which guarantees the right to education, and warns that any further delay would be a violation of both national and international law.
While SUP’s ultimatum is clear, it remains to be seen whether their threat of mass protests and “revolutionary action” will gain the support of the broader student body or if it will deepen the rift between the administration, faculty, and students.
The confrontation over the university’s reopening is set to come to a head on November 18, and all eyes will be on the University of Liberia as students, faculty, and government officials brace for what could become a defining moment in the nation’s educational and political landscape.
SUP’s call for a unified stand—“school for everybody or nobody”—has sent a loud message to the government and university authorities that they will not sit idly by while their futures hang in the balance.
