Education Or Exploitation?

Othello S. Nimely

‎Monrovia-November 20, 2025: Concerns are once again mounting over the safety and well-being of young students attending public schools in Liberia – whether they are learning or being exploited – following disturbing scenes at the Ellen Mills Scarborough Kindergarten and Elementary School in Brewerville.

‎‎During a recent visit, our Reporter noticed more than ten students—aged between 8 and 13 were seen engaged in strenuous hard labor, clearing grass from around the school building during regular instructional hours.

‎‎The children, dressed in their school uniforms, worked under the scorching sun with cutlasses, shovels, and diggers, performing tasks typically reserved for adult laborers.

‎‎Our reporter observed a woman believed to be an authority of the school holding a switch, reportedly using it to intimidate the children into completing the hard labor.

‎‎The situation has sparked public concern, and questions why children sent to school for academic growth are instead being subjected to work that endangers their safety and undermines their education.

‎‎Students who spoke with this outlet disclosed that such activities are common at the school. “We brush, sweep, dig, and even wash bathrooms during class time,” one student said.

‎‎The practice raises serious concerns about the quality of education in public schools and whether children are receiving the academic attention they deserve.

‎‎Parents fear that exposing young students to dangerous tools and heavy labor not only interrupts learning but also places them at physical risk.

‎The incident also highlights broader systemic issues affecting Liberia’s education sector. Many public schools across the country struggle with inadequate infrastructure, insufficient teaching materials, and a shortage of qualified instructors.

‎In several rural communities, students sit on bare floors or outdoors due to the lack of proper classroom facilities.

‎Protecting the welfare and dignity of young learners is essential if Liberia is to build a strong, educated generation capable of shaping the nation’s future.

‎Efforts to reach authorities at the Ellen Mills Scarborough School for comment were unsuccessful by press time.

‎However, immediate action is necessary to curb the continuous use of hard labor in schools and refocus attention on meaningful teaching and learning.