The Government of Liberia has announced that schools will officially re-open February 2, 2015. All schools are set to begin enrollment January 12, 2015.

In March of 2014, an unprecedented Ebola outbreak ravaged West Africa. The outbreak, which is said to be the “largest” in West Africa originally started in Guinea, March of 2014 and subsequently spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal. The Ebola virus disease (EVD) was said to be transmitted through blood or bodily fluids of an infected person (CDC); and as one of the measures taken by the Government of Liberia to prevent the spread of the virus, they announced the immediate and indefinite closed of all schools in July of 2014.

Since the news that schools are set to re-open next month, it has been received with mix-reaction. Some, including ME1C2/LILFOC Foundation has excitedly embraced the news, but has expressed serious reservations as it relate to not just safety, but overall preparedness of Liberia’s Education Sector; while others have said that the announcement came as a big surprised and should be reconsider for reasons which also reflect safety. While we at ME1C2/LILFOC Foundation are excited about the re-opening of schools, we are very concern about the lack of a solid plan from the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Education relative to ensuring safety and an environment conducive for quality learning. It is important to note that though the number of suspected cases has reduced tremendously, Ebola remains a serious health issue in communities across Liberia. It defeats the purpose in regards to why schools were closed six months ago if we are willing to send our kids out to those same schools without any guidelines and/or support to ensure safety and a conducive learning environment.

Before Ebola shut the doors of our schools, serious problems which hindered the quality of learning existed, those issues has become even worse after Ebola. Reports from Liberia indicates that most schools are in deplorable conditions, worse than they were before Ebola as expected. Administrators has expressed the difficulties they face financially to adequately prepare to re-open their doors for school. The lack of qualify teachers, text books, chairs/desks and other major necessities remains a problem. Another problem is the lack of funds for some parents to enroll their children while they’re still fighting the deadly Ebola virus in some form. The million dollar question is, in as much as we’re eager to commence the education of our children, ARE WE PREPARE?

We are calling on the Government of Liberia to step up and act accordingly. It defeats the purpose relative to why schools were closed six months ago, if we’re willing to just send students and administrators back to schools not safe or prepared to re-open. We can no longer afford to risk the lives of our citizens by sending them in an environment not safe and conducive for learning. A few things must be address before schools are allow to re-open. These are our recommendations:

1.  Teachers and Administrators across the Country must undergo an extensive Ebola Awareness and Preventive Training Program design by the Ministry of Health. Said Awareness and/or Preventive Measures should be share with Parents to further educate kids at home about protecting themselves at school (Put it in simple English).
2. To beef-up said safety measures, we recommend that at least one (1) Nurse, pay for by the government of Liberia for the entire school year, be appointed at each school.
3. Reduce Liberia’s overly congested classrooms by helping schools provide require sitting capacity.
4. Mandatory hands washing before and in between class periods.
5. The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with school administrators and in consultation with the Ministry of Health, must draft a new policy that guide or regulates on-campus socializing. Such could include (No hand shaking, hugging, etc).
6. Poor Sanitary condition of schools and its environs must be address.
7. There should be some financial assistance to schools for preparedness. Some of said funds could go towards the recruiting of new instructors, which some schools currently lack.
8. Last but not least, only schools declare fit to open by the Ministry of Health (or an independent committee) in consultation with the Ministry of Education, be allow to open. That decision should mirror whether or not schools have met health guidelines, underwent Ebola awareness training, addressed sanitary issues etc.

A lot more could be done, but these are common sense actions we can take right now. It’s imperative that we ensure that the schools our kids attend are safe and equipped to achieve the reason for which they attend, quality education. An open letter to whom it may concern is on the way with these recommendations and more. It’s my hope that those in positions to act, are listening and acting appropriately.