Students and instructional staffs at Bong County Technical College (BCTC), are of the opinions that the Boakai Administration, has failed the youth, thus leaving the institution in chaos.
Some of the students claimed that the situation has also left their future in jeopardy.
The ongoing indefinite strike by the Rural Universities and Colleges Faculty Association of Liberia (RUCFAL), which started since September 24, has brought learning at BCTC to a complete halt, thereby, exposing a government with neglect.
Among the most aggrieved students is Esther Paye, a newly admitted student, who has become so frustrated.
“We worked hard to come here and pursue our dreams,” Esther said. “Now, the government has punished us with neglect. Our future is being stolen, and no one in authority seems to care.”
Over 500 students, arrived at BCTC expecting classes to begin on October 1, only to encounter empty classrooms, and locked offices.
Faculty members are demanding fair salaries, improved working conditions, and alignment with authorities at the University of Liberia, and Tubman University pay scales; yet the government continues to ignore their legitimate grievances.
This crisis is not just a strike; it is a national disgrace, because the government has clearly prioritized Monrovia over the rural communities; abandoned educators, and left students to bear the consequences of “political negligence.”
Bong County lawmakers, have reportedly failed in their duty, remaining silent as youth continue to suffer for higher education.
Reports indicate that students are preparing peaceful protests in Gbarnga, signaling that patience is wearing thin.
Esther Paye and her peers have vowed to fight for their rights to acquire education, refusing to be silenced by government inaction.
BCTC, once a beacon of hope for rural youth, now stands as a monument to governmental betrayal and indifference.
Some of the locals told this newspaper that, if the strike is not resolved immediately, an entire generation of students will have their dreams stolen, and the Boakai Administration will be remembered as the government that killed education in Bong County.