07/08/2026
Hundreds of Pupils Face Danger as Dilapidated Potupo Juwelpo School Remains Unfit for Learning Ahead of Reopening in River Gee
By: Chris P. Toee
River Gee County | August 7, 2026 | Residents of gold mining town of Potupo Juwelpo in River Gee County are raising serious concerns over the alarming condition of the community's only public primary school, warning that the deteriorating structure poses a major threat to the lives of hundreds of schoolchildren and teachers.
The school building, which serves children from Nursery through Grade Six, has fallen into a state of severe disrepair.
Large sections of the walls have become deteriorated, while the roof leaks heavily during rainfall, leaving classrooms flooded and exposing pupils and teachers to unsafe learning conditions.
According to school authorities and community residents, the building has become increasingly hazardous, with fears that parts of the aging structure could collapse if immediate rehabilitation or reconstruction is not undertaken.
In addition to the poor state of the infrastructure, the school is also grappling with a critical shortage of teaching staff.
Despite enrolling hundreds of pupils, the institution has only a government-paid teacher and two volunteer teachers who goes to teach by their wills, making it extremely difficult to provide quality education and adequate attention to students.
Speaking on behalf of the school, Quayee Seekor described the situation as heartbreaking and called for immediate intervention.
"Our children deserve to learn in a safe, secure, and conducive environment. The condition of this school building is dangerous, and the shortage of teachers continues to undermine the quality of education. We respectfully appeal to the Government of Liberia, the Ministry of Education, humanitarian organizations, development partners, NGOs, and all compassionate Liberians to come to our assistance."
Parents and local residents say they fear sending their children to school each day because of the constant risk posed by the deteriorating building, especially during the rainy season when water leaks through the roof and weakens the already damaged structure.
Community members also note that Potupo Juwelpo is the hometown of former Representative Francis Saywon Younge, expressing hope that renewed attention will be given to addressing the area's longstanding educational challenges.
Residents emphasized that access to quality education is a fundamental right and stressed that no child should be forced to risk their life simply to attend school
The community is therefore calling on the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Education, as well as international development partners, humanitarian organizations, non-governmental organizations, philanthropists, and well-meaning citizens, to urgently rehabilitate or construct a new school building and deploy additional qualified teachers to improve learning outcomes.
Meanwhile, when contacted local office of the Ministry of Education, River Gee County has confirmed to the situation.
For the people of Potupo Juwelpo, providing a safe and dignified learning environment is not merely an infrastructure project it is an investment in the future of their children and the sustainable development of River Gee County.
Photos Credit: Isaiah K Nyenpan
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