Classrooms at the Gee Foundation School in Fish-Town, River Gee County, have become scenes of discomfort and frustration as hundreds of children attend lessons without desks or chairs.
Instead, pupils sit on plastic tarpaulins spread across the floor, balancing notebooks on their laps while teachers struggle to maintain discipline and focus.
School officials confirmed to the Rural Reporters News Network (RRNN) that the shortage of furniture has persisted since the start of the 2025/26 academic year. Although the Ministry of Education supplied 150 armchairs in September, the donation fell far short of the needs of a school serving more than 500 students. The result is a daily scramble for limited seating, leaving many children—particularly those in grades one through four—without chairs for the entire school day.
Educators, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the learning environment as “poor and uncomfortable.” They noted that prolonged hours on the floor cause fatigue, body pain, and distraction among younger pupils. Teachers say the lack of proper seating undermines concentration, weakens classroom discipline, and erodes the quality of instruction.
Parents and community members have voiced growing frustration, appealing to government authorities, development partners, and humanitarian organizations for urgent intervention. “Our children cannot learn in dignity when they are forced to sit on the floor,” one parent lamented. Others warned that the poor environment discourages attendance and diminishes motivation, with some children reluctant to return to school under such conditions.
River Gee County’s challenges reflect broader systemic issues in Liberia’s rural education sector. Chronic underinvestment, inadequate infrastructure, and limited resources continue to hinder equal access to quality learning. Advocates argue that without sustained attention to rural schools, national commitments to education reform will remain unfulfilled.
Local leaders have joined parents in pressing for immediate action. They emphasize that the shortage of desks and chairs is not merely a logistical inconvenience but a violation of children’s right to education in safe and supportive conditions. “We cannot expect students to perform well when the basics are missing,” one community elder said.
The Ministry of Education has acknowledged the gap but insists that resources are stretched thin across the country. Officials point to competing demands in other counties, where schools also face shortages of teachers, textbooks, and classroom space. Yet critics argue that the situation in Fish-Town illustrates the urgent need for targeted investment in rural communities, where children are disproportionately affected by neglect.
As the school year progresses, the Gee Foundation School remains hopeful for swift intervention. Parents, teachers, and local leaders continue to call for desks, chairs, and other basic learning materials to restore dignity to classrooms. Advocates stress that the issue is not simply about furniture but about ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn in an environment conducive to growth and achievement.
The plight of Fish-Town’s students underscores a larger national challenge: bridging the gap between policy promises and practical realities. Until systemic issues of funding and infrastructure are addressed, equal access to education will remain elusive for Liberia’s rural children.
For now, the sight of pupils writing on their laps, seated on tarpaulins across classroom floors, serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for action.
