The Ministry of Education, through its Acting Minister, Latim Dathong, has suspended one county education officer (CEO) and two principals in Maryland with immediate effect for a period of one month for the arbitrary increment in public school registration fees. The affected persons are Professor Tehneseo P. Brohdonyen, CEO of Maryland, Gregory W. Nimely, Principal of John Hilary Public High School, and Annie T. Sleweon, Principal of Cape Palmas High School.
The Resident District Education Officer (DEO) has been mandated to act as CEO during this period, while the vice principal for John Hilary Tubman Public School, Handson Doe, and Ambrose S. Nollen (Cape Palmas High School) will serve as acting principals.
The decision to suspend the employees comes as a result of confirmation of extra fees charged by the John Hilary Tubman Public School and Cape Palmas Public High School administration. The Acting Minister attributed the reason for suspending the CEO and principals to the lack of oversight of the system and weakness in enforcing the MoE’s policy on hike in public school fees.
“As you may be aware, the ministry has maintained that only the approved stipulated fees of L$1,000, L$2,000 and L$3,000 for elementary, junior and senior high schools, in the order, accordingly, should be charged across the educational system,” Acting Minister Dathong stated.
The Ministry of Education has emphasized that no additional fee should be charged except where discussed, agreed upon and approved by the senior management team on a case-by-case basis.