MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Students of William V.S. Tubman High School took to the streets of Monrovia on Monday, March 24, 2025, demanding that their teachers return to class as the ongoing strike by the Monrovia Consolidated School System Teachers Association (MCSSTA) disrupted learning for a second consecutive day.
Chanting slogans and waving placards, the students called on the government to swiftly address the grievances of their teachers, warning that failure to do so could lead to wider disruptions across the capital. Some students threatened to interfere with normal school activities at other institutions if their demands were not met.
The MCSSTA has outlined four key demands, including salary adjustments for employees based on academic qualifications, full-time employment for volunteer teachers, implementation of a promised salary increment in line with President Joseph Boakai’s State of the Nation Address, and increased budgetary support for the MCSS. The teachers have vowed to continue their strike until these concerns are addressed.
The protest by students adds pressure on the Boakai administration, which is already facing criticism over its handling of the education sector. In a statement, the CDC-Council of Patriots (CDC-CoP) expressed solidarity with the striking teachers, accusing the government of neglecting the financial well-being of educators while prioritizing personal interests. The group demanded immediate payment of salaries and arrears, describing the situation as an “insult to the nation’s future.”
Meanwhile, with no resolution in sight, public school students across Monrovia remain out of classrooms, and the potential for further unrest looms if the government does not take urgent action to address the crisis.
