LIBERIA – An investigation by Smart News Liberia has uncovered that most public schools managed by Bridge International Academies (BIA) are seeking to end their partnerships with the organization due to strained working relationships and unmet commitments.
School officials from more than 10 public schools across Bomi, Grand Bassa, and Bong counties reported to Smart News Liberia that Bridge International Academies has failed to fulfill key promises. According to the administrators, Bridge had committed to renovating and upgrading school facilities, none of which has been delivered. This unfulfilled commitment, coupled with other operational issues, has led to severe challenges, prompting calls for the Ministry of Education to either remove Bridge from the education sector or ban its operations entirely.
School administrators consistently voiced frustrations, questioning why the Ministry of Education allowed Bridge to continue operations in Liberia. They accused the organization of prioritizing revenue collection from international donors over the welfare of schools and communities.
One school administrator stated, “Bridge doesn’t care about the welfare of teachers. It has failed our educational sector.” Another highlighted the poor conditions facing students, saying, “Many younger students fall asleep during lessons due to hunger. Some even leave school in search of food in nearby villages.”
The absence of a formal agreement between the Ministry of Education and Bridge was also a major concern. One administrator shared, “I haven’t seen any Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) from Bridge or the Ministry of Education. One morning, they simply announced that the school was now under Bridge’s control. I’m certain that similar problems exist in all public schools managed by Bridge.”
Smart News Liberia’s investigation further revealed that public schools managed by Bridge have seen a consistent decline in student enrollment, which many attributed to poor management.
In Bomi County, one administrator reported that despite promises of improvement, the school building has remained unchanged since Bridge took over. He noted that student enrollment had plummeted from 125 to 60 during the 2021/2022 academic year and accused Bridge of failing to provide his resettlement benefits.
In Bong County, another administrator alleged that Bridge is more focused on increasing donor funding than addressing the actual needs of the schools. He further claimed that Bridge does not update its student database regularly, resulting in inaccuracies and potentially misleading donor partners.
Parents, Teachers Associations (PTAs), and community elders echoed these concerns, pointing out that Bridge had failed to follow through on commitments to renovate and improve school facilities. They called for the organization’s removal, stressing that Bridge is not prioritizing the welfare of teachers and students.
Efforts to reach Bridge International Academies’ Director of Communications, Mrs. Melody Mezay-Ketter, for comment were unsuccessful. Calls to her phone went unanswered, and she did not respond to text messages.
