By: Ben TC Brooks
The learning conditions of young pupils in River Gee County have received a boost following the donation of more than 150 armchairs to two public primary schools.
The donation, directed to the Early Childhood Education (ECE) sections, is intended to improve the learning environment and provide comfort for children in their formative educational years.
The gesture was made possible through the Government of Liberia, working under the Ministry of Education, with strong advocacy from activist Martin K. N. Kollie, who had earlier highlighted the plight of children sitting on bare floors to take notes months ago in River Gee
Presenting the chairs on behalf of the government, River Gee County Education Officer, Jallah Sammy, explained that the initiative was influenced by the intervention of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
He said the provision of chairs is part of the government’s broader effort to address sitting capacity challenges in schools, particularly in rural Liberia.
“This donation will go a long way in relieving some of the burdens our children face daily.
We call on school administrators to take good care of these materials and ensure that they remain in the classrooms for the benefit of the students, and not diverted for private use,” Sammy cautioned.
At the same time, School authorities expressed gratitude to the Liberian government and pledged to properly utilize the furniture.
Principal T. Hne Juluply of the Gee Foundation School and Principal Theresa Chea of the Fish-Town Demonstration School both thanked the government and assured that the chairs will directly improve classroom learning conditions for the youngest pupils.
Also speaking, Rev. Ben A.D. Jah, Acting Chair of the River Gee County School Board, lauded the intervention, describing it as a turning point for education in the county.
“For years, children were forced to sit on the floor to write their lessons. This donation not only provides relief but also restores dignity to the learning process,” he said.
The intervention comes after months of public outcry initiated by activist Martin K. N. Kollie, who had exposed the dire conditions at Fish-Town Demonstration School, where pupils were documented sitting on the floor.
His advocacy drew national attention and sparked both governmental and community-driven responses.
In fact, shortly after Kollie’s revelations, the Kuncare Foundation, a local philanthropic organization in River Gee, donated more than 50 desks to the same school, providing temporary relief before the government’s larger intervention.
Residents say these efforts mark a step forward in addressing longstanding inequalities in Liberia’s education system, especially in rural counties where inadequate infrastructure and limited resources often hinder learning.
With the arrival of the new armchairs, students in River Gee’s Early Childhood Education are now expected to learn in a more comfortable and supportive environment a change many believe will positively influence both attendance and performance in the long run.
