Principal In Academic Malpractices?

By Esau J. Farr

Fresh report from Voinjama, Lofa County says the Principal of the Voinjama Multilateral High School has been suspended for time indefinite over alleged reports of academic malpractices.

Principal Ericson W. Boakai

ELBC Correspondent in Lofa County, Tokpah Tarnue told ELBC Tuesday morning that the Principal Ericson W. Boakai was suspended for alleged provision of new report cards to students who were reported to have failed in the school last school year (2017/2018).

Journalist Tarnue quoted Lofa County Education Officer, James Swanna as saying, the principal was temporarily taken off his role for the re-production of yearly and academic report cards, letter of recommendation and transcripts for students who were labeled failed last academic year for poor academic performance as reasons for his suspension.

Mr. Swanna is also quoted as telling journalists that Principal Boakai is reported to have very poor working relationship with instructors and administrators of the school, something that is said to put him in a state of being far from being re-instated soon since he can’t get a backing from his co-workers.

But when contacted for his response to the allegations levied against him, Boakai denied all assertions against him describing it as ‘politically witch-hunting and tribal sentiment’.

He said as someone who went to Monrovia from Lofa to receive education materials and stationeries for the school, he can’t be the same person to be doing what he sees as ‘stealing from oneself’.

Boakai is said to have pointed at the fact that he did not support the Presidency of soccer legend now President, George M. Weah and that he comes from the Kissi speaking group of the county.

The news of the suspension of the school principal over alleged academic malpractices came as a surprise to many considering that such person should be the one to help improve the educational sector of the country that is now being labeled as ‘messy’ due to the presence of ill prepared teachers in the classrooms that contribute to poor performances of high school students who later become university products.

Educational observers see such acts attributed to the school principal as embarrassing and worrisome since education authorities are yearning for the improvement of the system to be on par with countries in the West African sub-region ye the world.