Hundreds of pupils in the gold mining town of PotupoJuwelpo, River Gee County, are set to return to classrooms next week in a school building residents describe as “a disaster waiting to happen.”
The community’s only public primary school, which serves children from Nursery to Grade Six, is in a severe state of disrepair.
With the 2026/2027 school year about to reopen, parents say they are terrified of sending their children to a facility that could collapse at any moment.
A visit to the school shows cracked and deteriorating walls, gaping holes in the ceiling, and a roof that leaks heavily whenever it rains. During downpours, classrooms flood, desks get soaked, and pupils are forced to sit in water or be sent home.
“The walls are weak. You can see cracks running through them. When the rain comes, the roof leaks so bad the children cannot learn,” a teacher who asked not to be named said. “We fear one strong wind or heavy rain and the whole building could come down.”
School authorities and community leaders say the structure has not seen any major rehabilitation in years, despite serving as the only formal learning center for Potupo and surrounding villages.
The infrastructure crisis is matched by a severe shortage of teachers. The school enrolls hundreds of pupils, but operates with only one government-paid teacher and two volunteer teachers who teach out of goodwill.
With classes from Nursery to Grade 6, this means one teacher is often handling multiple grades in a single room, making quality instruction nearly impossible.
“We are doing our best, but it is not enough,” said Mr. Quayee Seekor, speaking on behalf of the school administration. “Our children deserve to learn in a safe, secure, and conducive environment. The condition of this building is dangerous, and the lack of teachers is killing the quality of education.”
Parents say the situation has forced many to keep children home, especially during the rainy season.
“Every morning I pray my child comes back safe,” one mother said. “The roof leaks, the walls are falling, and there are not enough teachers to watch them.
Community members note that Potupo Juwelpo is the hometown of former Representative Francis Saywon Younge, and they are appealing for renewed attention to the area’s long-neglected education sector.
In a passionate appeal, residents are calling on the Government of Liberia, the Ministry of Education, humanitarian organizations, NGOs, development partners, philanthropists, and all compassionate Liberians to urgently intervene.
They are requesting two things: 1. Immediate rehabilitation or construction of a new school building.
- Deployment of additional qualified, government-paid teachers to address the staffing gap
“Access to quality education is a fundamental right. No child should risk their life just to go to school,” Mr. Seekor added. “For us in Potupo Juwelpo, a safe school is not just about bricks and zinc.
It is an investment in the future of our children and the development of River Gee County.”
When contacted, the County Education Office in River Gee confirmed it is aware of the situation at Potupo Juwelpo School and said the matter has been reported to the Ministry of Education in Monrovia for consideration.
As reopening day approaches, the people of school hoped that their cries will be heard before tragedy strikes.
