MONROVIA, Montserrado – The Ministry of Education says it has suspended the county education officers of Margibi, Nimba, and Montserrado for their failure to exercise proper oversight over schools charging unauthorized fees.

According to the ministry, those suspended are James Gaye of Margibi, Moses Dologbay of Nimba, and Samuel Bondo of Montserrado.

The release revealed that the suspension of the three officers followed a report from a special taskforce recently set up to examine complaints by parents regarding that public school administrators were raising fees.

“The suspension of these individuals takes effect as of the 15th of October 2019,” the ministry said in the release.

“This action followed after an all-day deliberation held between the Senior Management Team and education officers, who are the direct representatives of the minister within these counties. Hence, all education stakeholders and the public are advised not to transact any matters relative to education management or operations at the county level with the suspended persons until further notice.”

The ministry also disclosed that the suspension comes after the education officers failed to properly communicate changes made to the prescribed fees, which was stipulated in the National Academic Calendar. It said the special task force would remain operational and continue probing complaints originating from other counties, as well as analyzing fees charged at private schools.

For private schools, the ministry said it is reviewing data on fees charged over the last two academic years in order to determine if an increment of fees charged corresponds with the service provided.

Featured photo courtesy of Zeze Ballah