By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor
At least 20 of the 26 public schools operating under the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS) of the government are shut down Tuesday as teachers and school administrators intensified an ongoing go-slow and sit-in protest over unresolved welfare and employment concerns.
Information gathered by this newspaper indicates that the closures followed a directive from the leadership of the MCSS Teachers Association (MCSSTA), which has vowed to continue its industrial action until the government fulfills commitments made to educators.
The protest stems from long-standing grievances that teachers say have been ignored despite repeated appeals to authorities.
Educators are demanding the implementation of provisions contained in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on March 27, 2025, between the Ministry of Education, MCSS, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, members of the National Legislature, and other stakeholders.
The latest action forms part of a broader campaign launched by teachers and staff on September 4, 2026, when they began a go-slow and sit-in protest. Union leaders described the move as a response to years of neglect, unfulfilled promises, and administrative shortcomings affecting the country’s public school system.
According to sources within the MCSS, the closure of schools significantly disrupted academic activities across Monrovia, leaving thousands of students out of classrooms.
The schools affected by Tuesday’s shutdown include:
- Boatswain Junior and Senior High School
- Marvii Sonii Elementary School
- Moses Weefur Elementary School
- Abendu Bensti Elementary, Junior and Senior High School
- Twe Memorial High School
- Emmanuel W. Johnson Junior High School
- Point Four Elementary School
- Paul’s Bridge Elementary and Junior High School
- Monrovia Demonstration Elementary School
- D.B. King Elementary School
- Lorma Quarter Elementary School
- Gaye Town Elementary and Junior High School
- William V.S. Tubman High School
- Glenn Elementary School
- Slipway Elementary School
- Pipeline Junior and Senior High School
- Newport Junior High School
- Monrovia Central High School
- W. Gibson High School
- Allen Bryant Elementary and Junior High School
Teachers insist that the protest will remain in force until the government addresses their concerns and fully implements agreements reached with stakeholders. Education authorities had not publicly responded to the latest shutdowns as of press time.
