MONROVIA — Senior Senator of Bomi County, Edwin Melvin Snowe, Jr., has raised serious concerns over the acute shortage of teachers in several public schools across Bomi County, urging Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah to take immediate action to ensure students receive the education they deserve.
In a formal letter dated February 3, 2026, and addressed to Minister Jallah, Sen. Snowe highlighted that schools in Wilson Town, Barmoh Town, and surrounding rural communities are either severely understaffed or completely devoid of assigned teaching personnel. “Reports received from community leaders, parents, and stakeholders indicate that some schools are currently operating with only one active volunteer teacher, while others have no Ministry-assigned staff present at all,” he wrote.
The senator emphasized the consequences of absenteeism and inadequate staffing on children’s learning. “This situation has created a deeply troubling environment where hundreds of school-going children are left without regular learning activities, exposing our youths to vulnerability, idleness, and long-term educational disadvantage,” Snowe warned.
According to Snowe, the irregular reporting of assigned teachers contradicts their professional obligations and undermines the government’s commitment to inclusive education and human capital development. He described the situation as “unacceptable and unsustainable,” calling for swift remedial measures from the Ministry of Education.
To address the issue, Sen. Snowe formally requested that Minister Jallah conduct an immediate personnel audit of all public schools within Bomi County. The senator further asked the ministry to submit a comprehensive list detailing all schools, including the number and duty status of instructional staff officially assigned to each institution.
“These requested actions will greatly help in assessing the scope of the problem and in identifying appropriate remedial actions to ensure that public education services are delivered effectively to the youths of Bomi County and Liberia,” Snowe stated, underlining the urgency of restoring normalcy in classroom instruction.
The senator also highlighted that consistent teacher presence is essential to safeguarding the educational future of children in rural communities. “Education is the foundation of national development, and without proper staffing, our young people are at a serious disadvantage,” he remarked.
Sen. Snowe’s concerns coincide with growing public calls for accountability and oversight in the education sector, particularly in counties where rural communities continue to face systemic neglect. He stressed that legislative oversight is crucial to ensure the Ministry of Education fulfills its mandate.
In his letter, Snowe copied the Chairperson of the Senate’s Committee on Education, Sen. Nathaniel F. McGill, urging the committee to follow up and support the Ministry in taking corrective measures. “We must ensure that the government’s commitment to inclusive and quality education translates into tangible results on the ground,” he noted.
The senator concluded by urging Minister Jallah to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves, stressing that immediate intervention is vital to prevent further disruption in learning and to restore confidence in Liberia’s public education system.
