Monrovia, Liberia -November 13, 2021: Due to reports of hike in fees of public schools in Maryland county, Ministry of Education through its Acting Minister, Honorable Latim Dathong on today, November 13, suspended one (1) County Education Officer (CEO) and two (2) principals of Maryland with immediate effect for a period of one (1) month for the arbitrary increment in public school registration fees. The affected persons are Prof. Tehneseo P. Brohdonyen, CEO of Maryland, as well as, Mr. Gregory W. Nimely, principal of John Hilary Public High School, and Ms. Annie T. Sleweon, principal of Cape Palmas High School, respectively. The Resident District Education Officer (DEO) will act as CEO during this period, while the vice-principal for Mr. Handson Doe (John Hilary Tubman) and Mr. Ambrose S. Nollen (Cape Palmas High School) will serve as acting principals.

According the ministry of Education, the decision to suspend the employees comes as a result of confirmation of extra fees charged by the John Hilary Tubman Public School and Cape Palmas Public High School administration, respectively. The Acting Minister attributed the reason to suspend the CEO and principals to the lack of oversight of the system and weakness in enforcing the MoE’s policy on hike in public school fees.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has maintained that only the approved stipulated fee of $1000, $2000 and $3000 for Element, Junior, and Senior High schools, in the order, accordingly should be charged across the education system. There is emphasis that there must be no additional fee charged except where discussed, agreed and approved by the Senior Management Team on a case-by-case basis.