Monrovia, 20 October, 2020 / 10:30 am (ACI Africa).
The ongoing strike by teachers and members of support staff serving in Catholic schools under Liberia’s Monrovia Archdiocese has been termed “gross unfairness” to other stakeholders of the learning institution, including learners and their respective parents.
In an interview with ACI Africa, an official of the Catholic Education Secretariat (CES) in the pastoral jurisdiction of Monrovia Archdiocese, said four of the five demands of the members of the Association of Catholic School Teachers and Support Staff (ACTS INC.) “are not appropriate.”
“The action of some personnel to stop work is gross unfairness to the students, parents/guardians, the Catholic Church, Liberia and the world at large,” the Education Secretary of the Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia, Fr. Sumo-Varfee Molubah told ACI Africa Monday, October 19.
Making reference to the October 3 letter issued by the boycotting personnel, Fr. Sumo-Varfee said, “I can simply assert that all of the demands, except number one are not appropriate!”
In their collective letter addressed to the leadership of CES, members of ACTS INC. announced their strike that was to kick off ten days later on October 13. In the letter, they outlined five demands that must be met by their employer before they would consider returning to work.