Webo High School in River Gee County is facing a shortage of qualified teachers in key subjects, putting the 15 students registered for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at a disadvantage.
The school lacks specialized teachers in English, Physics, Economics and Geography; four essential components of the regional exam.
“We are doing everything possible to support our students, but the absence of subject-specific teachers has affected both the quality of instruction and students’ understanding of key concepts,” the Principal Maria Y. Walker told reporters.
The school, founded in the 1970s, has served as a major learning center in the Southeastern region, but it is now struggling to maintain academic standards.
Authorities have reported the issue to county officials, but no concrete action has been taken up to date.
Community members and students are worried about the impact on students’ performance. “I am not sure our children will pass this year’s WASSCE successfully, because there are no qualified teachers to properly teach them,” said Matthew Doe, a resident of Webo.
The Webo District Education Officer, Miatta Fofina, acknowledged the shortage of teachers.
The County Chief Education Officer Jallah Sammy said, his office has worked over time to deploy qualified educators to the school.
The situation highlights broader challenges facing rural education, where limited access to trained teachers hinders student achievement.