The Dobor Bedell Foundation, has officially withdrawn from the renovation of the Harper Demonstration High School in Maryland County.
The Foundation cited “persistent and unprecedented interference from county authorities.”
Harper Demonstration High School, one of the oldest government-run institutions, has remained in ruins for decades. Students are often forced to learn in dilapidated classrooms, many of which are near collapse.
The withdrawal now leaves the future of more than 500 students uncertain, as they risk being out of school this academic year.
The Foundation had initiated the project weeks ago with the hope of beginning classes once renovations were concluded.
An earlier assessment put the total cost of damages at over US$41,000 funds that the CEO had already committed to cover.
However, at a news conference over the weekend in Maryland County, the Foundation officials disclosed that their work was halted midway after the County Superintendent ordered the suspension of the project.
According to Harper District Coordinator, Sawodey Doe, the Superintendent cited the unavailability of government funding to undertake the renovation.
“Since the order to stop, neither the Ministry of Education nor the Superintendent, has resumed renovation as promised,” Doe said, adding that the Foundation had no choice, but to remove its materials from the site after repeated engagements yielded no positive outcome.
“We are not disappointed, because we are pulling out our materials. We are leaving behind a school that hosts over a thousand students, who represent the future. Their future has been dashed as this work comes to an end,” Doe said.