It is with sadness that we gather here today to give our official statement on the saga involving the Teachers Association of Liberia and the Ministry of Education on the one hand and the Monrovia Consolidated School System and the MCSS Teachers Union on the other hand.

We are saddened once more that at this early stage in the academic year, teachers have gone on strike, an action that is constraining the students and denying them of the regular academic days, which usually leads to massive failures in the national exams and university entrance examinations.

Having done our investigation, we will not shift blames on any party nor use this single press statement as the direct tool to settle this complex matter. We are students and the ultimate victims of the ongoing strike action.

It is against this background that we are recommending the following to all the parties involve:

1. That the Ministry of Education led by Min. George Werner in the next five working days call for a dialogue meeting to settle this matter. At the meeting, the National Teachers Association of Liberia should send a delegation; the Monrovia Consolidated School System`s Teachers Association should also send its delegation; the superintendent of the Monrovia Consolidated School System, Mr. Benjamin Jacobs, should also be present; along with members of the student community as well. We believe that the National Teachers Association of Liberia has some legitimate claims that need to be addressed. On the other hand, the Ministry of Education also has some concerns about the ongoing projects that they are running. Therefore, we believe that a dialogue is the surest means of settling this matter as soon as possible.

1. That Bridge International and its implementing partners be present at the meeting to clearly explain their role in the management of the PPP schools. This is meant to get the teachers informed about what is happening and thereafter listen to their concerns and find an agreement for moving forward. We have some recommendations to both the Ministry of Education and the National Teachers Association of Liberia, and we believe that the meeting will be the best platform to channel these recommendations.

1. That all students remain in schools even without teachers in their classes until we say otherwise. In class, students who are excellent in the nine WAEC Subjects should serve as tutors to their friends.

1. That upon failure of the Ministry of Education to call for the dialogue within the stipulated time, we will lead another major demonstration with hundreds of student blocking the major entrances leading to the Ministry of Education and thereafter the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

1. That failure of the National Teachers Association of Liberia to attend the meeting and put forth their concerns, we will lead a major demonstration with hundreds of student going against their plights and blaming them as the immediate problem in resolving the ongoing saga.

Our major concern is to ensure that normal academic activities resume. We intend to use dialogue first and no doubt peaceful demonstration as our last means.

Finally, at this stage, we are appealing to the Ministry of Education, the MCSS system and the National Teachers Association of Liberia to put aside their disagreements and have a dialogue. We have officially communicated this to all the parties involved. It is our ardent hope that they will give us the same respect they deserve from us and that together, we will resolve this matter without resulting to any student demonstration.

Thank you distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the press.