Traditional School Outclasses Academia

-As Academic Students Take Transfer To Sande and Poro Bush

By Esau J. Farr

It is widely said in Liberia that “If you feel education is expensive, try ignorance,” and that there is a road that leads to destruction which seems wide.

In the case of students leaving academic school in Margibi County to take transfer to the traditional bush school, it is not the matter of school being expensive, but ignorance and parental pressure could be the mastermind of it all, that is according to observers.

Latest report coming from Margibi County speaks of academic students (boys and girls) escaping from the classroom and going to traditional school in Liberia.

According to the ELBC correspondent in a Margibi County, the exodus of  students from the academic school to the Poro and Sande schools is taking place when students of that part of the country and the nation as a whole are gearing up for Third Marking Period Test.

“What is most embarrassing is that unlike the regime of former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, where the traditional school used to take place while students were on break, the traditional school is actively in session while academic school in also in full swing,” the ELBC’s correspondent observed.

In 2013 the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Internal Affairs placed a moratorium on the active administrative running of the traditional schools (Poro and Sande) during the regular academic calendar.

Since then, authorities of the traditional schools (Chiefs, Zoes and elders) have been repeatedly warned against coming in conflict with the academic calendar since it has negative influence on the youthful student population of the country especially those in rural Liberia.

Some school principals in Margibi County are reportedly complaining of the situation that is causing reduction in the enrollment of students at affected schools, but there are fears of fight back since traditional zoes have magical powers and work mysteriously.