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The presenter of First Institution of the Thematic and Institutional Hearings was called to the stand and was sworn to tell the truth and nothing but the truth by the TRC Hearings Officer Pastor John Teayah.
Chairman: good afternoon and welcome. We want to thank you for coming to make this presentation on behalf of the Women.
GOVERNANCE AND RULE OF LAW COUNTY ADMINISTRATION
Local government has been fully restored with the deployment of administration and sector ministry and agency officials in Sinoe County. Following the 2005 elections, and subsequently inauguration of president, a county superintendent and an assistant superintendent for development were nominated by the president of the republic and confirmed by the senate to administer the affairs of the county. Line ministries and agencies of government have sent their personnel in the county to take up assignment.
Ministries and agencies present in the county are as follows to wit: - Internal Affairs; Commerce and Industry; Public Works, Justice land Mines and Energy, Education; Health and Social Welfare; Gender and Development; Finance; Youth and Sport; Labor Agriculture, others are Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization; Forestry Development Authority, Liberia Refugees Resettlement Committee; and National Port Authority. Besides the county administrative buildings were destroyed and in a serious state of disrepair. In addition, the county has district development committee (DDCs) operation in each of the 16 administrative districts.
Sinoe county institutional structures include five (5) statutory district; 16 administrative district; 69 chiefdoms; 101 clans; 574 town and 43 cities.
JUDICIAL SYSTEM
The judiciary branch of government has been partially established in Sinoe County. There are a total of 47 courts in the county. Amongst these courts, one Circuit, one Debit, one Traffic and one Revenue and one Magisterial Court are opened in Greenville. The magisterial and third judicial circuit courts are functional. The magisterial court lacks security, supplies and equipment to run efficiently. There are an additional of two traffic courts (one in Juarzon and one in Sanquin). There are probate courts one each in Sanquin, Juarzon and Kpanyan and one revenue courts in Sanquin; several magisterial courts are functional in other parts of Sinoe County.
The government of Liberia has appointed one Attorney Konton as public defense counsel. He took up assignment this Feb. term of court 2008.
There is one corrections facility in Sinoe County, located on Johnstone Street, Greenville, Sinoe County. This building was intended to be a store built on government land. However, the unfinished structure was converted into a center prison funded by UNHCR and implanted by African concern international (ACI) in 2007. The building is partitioned into three compartments which contain female, male and juvenile holding cells with an office attached. The fencing of said building is now completed.
SECURITY
The central government has deployed eighty - six (86) male police officers to Sinoe County to execute their national duty. These police officers have also been assigned to the various districts within the county.
A police station was constructed in 2007 through UNMIL Quick Impart Project to host its administrative operations. The police are properly attired and have handcuffs with batons. However, LNP lacks communications facilities and vehicles which serve as hindrance to effectiveness and efficiency.
BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION (BIN)
The prevailing strength of the BIN in the county is 14 (12 men and 2 women). There are basically tow deports in Sinoe county located in Nyenfueh town and Payne town respectively. Greenville is the bind county headquarters, making the total posts three in the county. The BIN in the telecommunications building. The bureau lacks vehicles, communications equipments, and other essential logistics.
Notwithstanding, its officers are uniquely attired with new uniforms possess handcuffs and batons.
EDUCATIONS
Recent statistic from the CEO office puts the number of public schools at 175 with an enrollment population of 17, 175 categorized as follows: primary school 149 with 14, 118 students, and secondary schools 26 with 3,597. The total number of teacher and support staff in the Sinoe school system is 597. Most of these schools do not have teachers to meet student enrollment needs. The civil war destroyed most of our schools. Therefore, we are appealing to the central government (ministry of education) to augment the strength of the Sinoe school system, on the line of teacher, supplies, mobile (vehicle), text books for the use of the students and to repairs some of the damaged schools.
HEALTH
Quite recently the ministry of health appointed a medical doctor, for the county, and is also sending a foreign doctor to assist. Right now the only referring hospital, T. J. GRANT is now proving. But we want the central government to come to an aid in renovating some of our damage clinic and send us more nurses.
ROAD
The road condition is not fine, they are very deplorable and are causing us a lot of problems in the county because movement is very difficult and transportation is very expensive.
Questions fro the Commissioners
Commissioner Stewart: thank you for your presentation, the commissioners will ask you few questions for clarification.
Commissioner Syllah: you talk of SRC what is happening there now?
Presenter: The situation is such that people are just going there to take what they can.
Chairman: we want to tell you thank you for the comprehensive report. I have concerns of illegal exploitation of resources in this county, how is the situation?
Presenter: We will start with companies coming in because we do not have police to take care of the are otherwise the state can do nothing now.
You realize that people are taking the resources illegally?
Presenter: Yes that is the case and the government if gaining nothing.
You talk about BOPC which I thing had a lot of people a year or two ago who is there now?
Presenter: There is a private institution there now.
The issue of the conflict between the Kru and the Sapo, is you office been confronted with this?
Presenter: Yes last year we had a conference here and we invited all the old people from all the different groups and this year we are going to Ballibokre for the same conference.
Are there issues of land disputes that your office is involve with?
Presenter: Yes there are land issues and we have set up committees that will even be meeting to day on the same issue.
Commissioner Stewart: what is the problem of the SRC and how have you come in?
Presenter: By the 31 of this month they will start operation
There is confirmation that some legislative caucuses are receiving some money from these people, are you aware?
Presenter: Yes the caucuses are aware of the situation and meetings are going on to these effects.
What is the situation with these cooperate institutions in Sinoe county?
Presenter: There are some here and the Liberia coconut plantation about hundred plus acres are there and people just go there and exploit the place with the government gaining nothing.
How does the state stands to gain from the BOPC Company?
Presenter: The negotiation is ongoing with the authorities and the local communities involved in it.
Sinoe is known to be rich in Timber, what is the level of pit sawing going on in the county and what is the county gaining from it?
Presenter: As I said the people are doing their own thing, they make arrangement from the SDA and the county authorities are not involved.
How do the local community benefit?
Presenter: They are benefiting, in that if you saw about 150 planks, you give the community about 50 pieces.
How do such activities benefit the local community?
Presenter: The planks that they gave the community they sell them and use them for other purposes.
We are hearing about diamond rush and the county is rich in gold, how is the county benefiting and dhow area local community benefiting from these exploiting?
Presenter: The local people are gaining but not the local administration, they make the arrangement and they do not inform the Superintendent office.
What role does the local development representative play in this role?
Presenter: If the government put up a development package they are the ones to monitor it and make report to us.
How is the local government involve in the upkeep of the Sinoe park and how is revenue been generated from there to help the county and the local people, is there planning for the sustainable use of the park for the benefit of the locals and the nation?
Presenter: The local officials there and the FDA are building houses there so that the locals can move from the park and some are employed to go in the park and get the people from there and they are given incentives but nothing is reaching to us here.
Commissioner Dolopei: which group mare you going to be bringing in?
Presenter: Well I don not know, my chief had not told me, they will be brought in from Monrovia.
Was there a ply wood company here?
Presenter: Yes but it was private.
Chairman: On behalf of the Commissioners I want to say thank you for your presentation and for coming before the Commission.
Institutional/Thematic Hearings Greenville City, Sinoe County
Elders
Presentation made by: Emannuel S. Wesseh (Clan Chief and Chairman of the Traditional Council Sinoe County)
(Second Institution)
The presenter of Second Institution of the Thematic and Institutional Hearings was called to the stand and was sworn to tell the truth and nothing but the truth by the TRC Hearings Officer Pastor John Teayah.
Chairman: good afternoon and welcome. We want to thank you for coming to make this presentation on behalf of the Elders and Chiefs of Sinoe.
Presenter: Presenting on behalf the Chiefs and Elders of Sinoe County, I am Emmanuel S. Wesseh Clan chief. I was born in 1957 November 29. I work with government and also I am engage in farming activities. I plant rice, cassava, cocoa and etc.
Commissioner Steward: tell us a little bit about the council of elders, what have being their roles, when were they organized, what are goals, objectives and so on.
Presenter: ell even though I joined the Liberian government in 1986. I was elected by the people from Monrovia upon my graduation from high school. My people elected me to go back home to serve them. And so I was elected June 1986 that was Doe administration and so that time the elders of chiefs' council was organized. But it was a single man one voice from Monrovia. When the president ready he say I talked for the people of Liberia. When the war over in 2006 June I was elected, the President, her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, convene a meeting in Gbarnga. That 2006 June. Where we went from all over Liberia where we have to elect our chief, our national chairman, Mr. Zaza Garwha. And after that October 2006, I came over here (In Sinoe) and I convene a meeting with chiefs and elders that is a need to organize ourselves into one body. So they ask me to set up an interim government of officers until election is held. And election was held April last year. And I was elected by the people as their chairman of the county.
Commissioner Steward: from this national council of chiefs and elders, have people got involved in resolving conflict around the county?
Presenter: No, this is our greatest concerns. Before I was even elected during my interim chairmanship, I visited three districts, where I have meeting with my people to promote peace. And do some awareness to explain things to them. And that we tell them that is a program put together, called the TRC. But before the TRC come to Sinoe, we have to do our own work, so I started with that. I went to Faryan district, Burtor district, Pyne district and last month I was called to Monrovia for a conference. I return back Saturday. Because of this program I was invited by the acting superintendent that just left here, that what make me to come this Saturday to witness this occasion.
Commissioner Steward: so you have being involving your activities in the conflict resolution in this county.
Presenter: one witness came here and said that there is no meeting that can be held in Kru area and Sapo cannot go there and when meeting is held in Sapo area, the Kru cannot go there. But for me, even though he has not witness my meeting before, but I take Sapo and carried them to Nopon district in Kabadar which we have a meeting. I took people from Greenville here and we reached to Ajuwon, which Bilibo Creek.
Commissioner Steward: which of the ethnic group you belong to?
Presenter: Kru, before I went to Monrovia last month I wrote the chairman for women affairs. There where the clan chief in Bilibo Creek she and I want to have meeting with the people there. She sent me a letter yesterday to meet with her tomorrow on the 15th where they will have a meeting with chiefs and elders and we all should go there. I don't know now whether this meeting will give the chance for me to be there tomorrow.
Commissioner Steward: thank you very much for providing some background of the chiefs and the elder's council and other important things.... At this time you can go ahead and make your presentation. And after which the commissioners will ask you few questions on the clarification.
Presenter: we that are from the traditional background we don't have to stand because our backs are very old now and so I will sit. I thank you very much. I am happy that the TRC came to Sinoe County for hearing. Through this hearing of the war, I know already what happened. We the elders and chiefs know that our children deserve Liberia, and even took lives and properties. But what we want to say here is I personally suffered as a chief from all the factions. The NPFL enter my town. They say, that the time we were chiefs, they came first we were elected the chiefs. As soon as they entered there was no chiefs business. Everybody was commander now, there was town commander. Every body became commander; they forced you to be commander. There was no chief business. Whether your clan commander, town commander for their actions, everybody runs away, but we will not run away. Because when you run away, they grabbed you, they say why you run away. We the chiefs we are very brave people. We don't even hold arms. But we are warriors in our own mind because we represent the people. And when we run away the people run away. So they asked for food, you give them food. If nobody around to carry their loads to the next town, you will carry their load, because you are in their hands and so there were not respect for the chiefs. They say sit down old man, you on the ground now they called you papay. And you are on the ground doing your papay work. And then there were no respect at that time. We suffered a lot and they told us that the war is over. Now that the war is over, and we are looking for the quest for change to also be given. Because the war way is still in our children, especially those that refuse to go to school. And they are not trained to that war system.
And now there is no chiefs elected, all the chief that were from the war time are still chiefs. No one has come to be elected as chief. So the respect for chiefs are not there. We want the government to elect our chiefs. Since we have election for Senators, Representatives; they must have election of chiefs. And secondly the chiefs need to be trained in their respective areas of assignments. Let the internal Ministry should have workshop too. If as it we will have the role to play. What belong to chiefs, chiefs' matter or traditional. The Magistrate will take the case because the chiefs don't know law. So when he that is not law, so we take and give to him. And when it come to focus, the commission will say it not suppose to be so. So we need more training. This workshop must go to chief's place where the chiefs will know their civil law and criminal laws so that we will know what to do. We need offices I now. I don't have no logistics, the places I talked about now I have to walk three days to go there. So we want the government to consider chiefs in giving supplies too, in giving incentives, in giving allowance. So beside that we also travel to Monrovia allowance so that we will be able to travel. The way I am planning to go to Bilibo creek tomorrow, if I don't have transportation I will not go because I will not walk three hours from here tomorrow and reached the same day. .if I don't go the people will say our boss man suppose to come but he don't come. If I go to any vehicle now they will say bring $1500 or $2500. If I don't have it I will not attend that meeting. It hurts my feeling. But what to do, let the government try to see about us, especially chiefs so that it can work and promote the peace that we are talking about. We are willing to work with the TRC. We will now help so that we will reunify our people. I finished.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Commissioner Syllah: Where were you elected, in Monrovia or where?
Presenter: No, I came home to be elected upon my graduation from high school
Why do they people have to elect you at a young age?
Presenter: I used to be around the elders and worked with them with cases that they had. I even do the work of the elders and chiefs. But besides, I was wise in the handling matters. So upon graduation I was elected
When did that take place?
Presenter: It was 1986 during the late President Doe era
Where is your father?
Presenter: He died March 2003
Do your chieftaincy passed from family to family as in some other areas?
Presenter: No, polity has taken over, they are elected.
What are you doing now as chiefs?
Presenter: we instruct people to make farm in cooperative group called coop. as the example of our seriousness, the group had to start on the chief farm first. And then to the rest of the other people in the Coop.
What about the ordinary people?
Presenter: the town people which you consider as the ordinary people are part of the coop. they joined the coop too.
What about sassy wood, whether is still practice here?
Presenter: no, we are not practicing it here, after the pronouncement was past by the central government.
What was the role of the elders during the war?
Presenter: the chiefs organized themselves into groups to speak on behalf of the people to any fighting group. We sometimes elect chairman to speak for the people.
What are you doing to re-integrate those former fighters?
Presenter: the chief gave them protections during the war and this cause some of the chiefs to loss their lives. But we have being encouraging them to be brave to come to the TRC and confess and that they will be forgiven. We have being trying our own leak ways to organize meetings in this same direction.
Chairman: Thank you very much. We appreciate your coming.
Do you know or is it true that some chiefs took part in the war, and took side in the war?
Presenter: I don't think so
After the war other chief took side with some of the faction?
Presenter: No, not the chiefs of Sinoe County, not to my knowledge
What role the TRC and the chiefs can play in reconciling the people, or in the reconciliation process and what about the people that were killed ceremonies?
Presenter: we will talk to the boys and continue to encourage them. For me I will continue to walk from town to town to meet them. About the ceremonies, we have not done any thing like that. But we will meet the people on every issue.
Is there any last word before you leave?
Presenter: We need
-chieftaincy election to be held
-Need to be train, educate, and have workshops
-Allowances, transportation
I will come to Monrovia to your office to remind you about these things
Chairman: TRC is located on the 9th street in Sinkor going towards the beach.
Thank you very much once.
Institutional/Thematic Hearings Greenville City, Sinoe County
Women
Presentation made by: Mariata Redd
(Third Institution)
The presenter of Third Institution of the Thematic and Institutional Hearings was called to the stand and was sworn to tell the truth and nothing but the truth by the TRC Hearings Officer Pastor John Teayah.
Chairman: good afternoon and welcome. We want to thank you for coming to make this presentation on behalf of the Civil Society.
Presenter: On behalf of the Sinoe women, we want to welcome the TRC here for this public hearing. We find it very unique and important. For me I don't have any written documents but any question that will be throw from the floor I will be able to say something on behalf of the women here. and our organization was founded since 1995, during the first and second ceased fire. The way in which the children were suffering, the women were suffering, we were nine. That?s how kind we the Sinoe women organized ourselves to promote peace among the women of Sinoe.
Commissioner Stewart: tell us a little about your self.
Presenter: I am engaged in different prospective. I was born February 7, 1957. The organization was founded 1995 and at time call Sinoe Women Association but is presently call Sinoe Women for Peace and Development.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Commissioner Stewart: Can you tell us a little bit about your organization and its plan for the future?
Presenter: Yes, our plan for the future is to create avenue for the empowerment of our women. And now we have our skill training program, that we are empowering thirty (30) women, fifteen (15) in soap making and fifteen (15) in pastry.
What are your plans?
Presenter: Is to see that most women be empower. We want more empowerment program here for the women.
Since 1995, what are some activities that you have been involved in?
Presenter: Catering to the war affected children and abounded children on self reliance bases.
Do you receive any assistance from where, and whom?
Presenter: Yes, from CRS, Children Aid Direct, and EU.
Well, can you tell us about your institution? what are your challenges, your prospect and plans?
Challenges
?To be more empowered
?For peace and Reconciliation Process to be carry on in all districts.
?. Literacy program to be able to read and write.
Problems women face with
?We want our companies to come to Sinoe so our men can get jobs to help us, because presently they are not employed.
?And when it come to the line of the TRC hearings, during the war most of these women caught hard time during the war but since we all try to talk about peace and Reconciliation, every thing has been working on fine.
Recommendations:
?Farm roads to market
?More Qualify teachers for Sinoe Multilateral High School
?Logging companies to help create jobs for our husbands
?Adult's literacy school in Sinoe should be given more attention.
?The Government should try to find the Sinoe National Park that our children will be able to see something in town to come.
?We want more skill training program for our women to be empowered.
?Our securities should be pay good salary so that they will not be engaged in arm conflict any more.
?Our borders should be tittering.
?More reconciliation program should be carry on in all districts.
Has your organization tried to document some of the activities we had during this war?
Presenter: Yes, we will have some documents to give to your.
What would you say are your prospect or future of your organization to look like, would you say bright, cloudy, difficult or what?
Presenter: We want to see that every thing be alright so that the women in the interior will be able to bring their product to town to sell.
Could say is because of bad roads, that these problems are created?
Presenter: Yes, are because of bad roads conditions.
Commissioner Syllah: Can you tell us what were some of the problems you had as women in Sinoe that prompted the formation of SWA?
Presenter: At that time our children were dying and even thought there was no food, but we could not just sit and see our children dying. So we decided to put small, small money together, so when ever some body child was sick we could help.
During 1995 you said you establish SWA. What are the activities that you carry on?
Presenter: Children were dying so we upon our self to help.
Your experiences in the war?
Presenter: Some women suffered
Commissioner Dolopei: Is this organization established only in Sinoe County?
Presenter: We are established in all the nine districts.
The TRC would be appreciative if the WSA would outline their needs and problems and pass the list over to us. Is there collaboration between SWA and other SEWAs?
Presenter: Yes, we collaborate closely
Did your presentation here today meet the approval of all the women of Sinoe County?
Presenter: Yes, we met before I came.
What has been the situation of young girls in the county has SWA done any thing as an association to do what they see as young girls doing bad?
Presenter: No, we have done it as an association, even through some have been done by family and by individuals and I hope other women have been doing it in their families too.
Chairman: What has the role of women during the war in terms of women holding arms during the war?
Presenter: No, no woman took arms here to fight except in the districts maybe. But we did not see any woman holding arm in Greenville for example.
Where you in Sinoe during 1990?
Presenter: Yes
Can you tell us how it affected girls?
Presenter: I did not know much. Properties were taken burning houses but arms were not taken by women.
Commissioner Stewart
Thanks for helping us to enhance our work. Thanks for coming. Do have a pleasant day.
Institutional/Thematic Hearings Greenville City, Sinoe County
Sinoe Youth Development Association
Presentation made by: Havin Swen T. (A Teacher)
(Fourth Institution)
The presenter of Third Institution of the Thematic and Institutional Hearings was called to the stand and was sworn to tell the truth and nothing but the truth by the TRC Hearings Officer Pastor John Teayah.
Chairman: good afternoon and welcome. We want to thank you for coming to make this presentation on behalf of the Civil Society.
What is your name?
Presenter: My name is Havin Swen T.
What is your date of birth?
Presenter: My birth date is November 1, 1976.
Are you a student?
Presenter: I am not a student. I happen to be a teacher.
Presenter: The Sinoe Youth Development Association (SYDA) was established in 2003, and the aims and objectives are:
1)To help reconcile and make peace; and
2)To reawaken the spirit of Sinoe Youth activities.
Commissioner Stewart: You may now make your presentation.
Presenter: Standing at the podium, we, the youth of Sinoe, have been inspired and reminded to repeat the most famous classical adage which says and I quote, "Speak the truth and it shall set you free."
First and foremost, we are indeed grateful to God Almighty for the preservation of our lives. Seeing this day, to us the youth, is the glorious opportunity afforded us.
Moreover, we wish to extend our profoundest thanks and appreciation to the Chairman and the organizing Committee in inviting us to attend this all-important forum - TRC Public Hearings for which we say in unison that this sort of gesture is highly commendable.
To emphatically admit, we directly or indirectly involved in the past revolutional activities out of ignorance. Really, we were fooled by the older ones so as to accomplish their selfish aims and objectives. Inadvertently, we did all forms of evil against our country and ourselves
Therefore at this juncture, we, the youth of Sinoe, are humbly and objectively appealing to Mama Liberia for forgiveness and embrace us once more and restore us to life anew.
Finally, we are calling on all youth throughout the length and breadth of Liberia that we must not be enticed to engage in any way to destroy our own country.
Havin Swen T.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Commissioner Stewart: You told us your aims objectives, but how do go about achieving them?
Presenter: We go about doing this by going every where to tell our friends to activate the SYDA activities and have it viable again.
Is the Sinoe Youth Development Association comprised of other associations?
Presenter: We don't have separate associations, but we have youth in the various districts and we have good understanding amongst ourselves.
What is your organization like; do you have president, vice president, etc?
Presenter: Oh, yes. Speaking to you now is the President of SYDA. And I have my corps of officers and we are cooperating very well.
Commissioners Syllah: Is there any cooperation between your association and the Federation of Liberian Youth?
Presenter: Oh, yes. Even recently I represented the SYDA at a youth meeting in Monrovia.
What would you say were some of the problems the youth faced as the result of the war?
Presenter: Many youth are suffering now: some are not in school; some are rejected by the community, and so on.
Commissioner Stewart: To what extent are the youth involved reconciliation process, especially when it comes to the Sapo-Kru tribal conflict?
Presenter: For us we don't have any problem with that because we are together. Even now the leadership of the SYDA is shared between the two ethnic groups.
But are you working in close collaboration with the local leaders and elders so as to contribute to the reconciliation?
Presenter: Yes, we are doing that.
Is there any last word that you have for the Commission before you leave?
Presenter: The last thing we have to say is that we have our young people graduating from the schools here like Sinoe Multilateral High School, but we don't see them getting any job here. Instead, we see they import different people from Monrovia to come and do the job like Intercon security. This is not fear to us. We have our youth here in the county to do the job. And even the NGOs do the same thing. We the youth don't like this. Then finally, the wrong use of the government property by the children of those who working for the government. For example, government cars are seen plying the streets after 4 o'clock (the working hour) by the children of those working for government and these are government property.
Institutional/Thematic Hearings Greenville City, Sinoe County
Education
Presentation made by: Harrison J. Jelleh (DEO Central Kpanyon)
(Fifth Institution)
The presenter of Third Institution of the Thematic and Institutional Hearings was called to the stand and was sworn to tell the truth and nothing but the truth by the TRC Hearings Officer Pastor John Teayah.
Chairman: good afternoon and welcome. We want to thank you for coming to make this presentation on behalf of the Civil Society.
The honorable superintendent, official of government present, staff and members of Truth and Reconciliation Commission, distinguished ladies and gentlemen fellow citizens. It is my pleasure and honor that I proxy for the county educational officer Mr. Sampson Clarke, who could be present due to his engagement with the national population census work. Mr. Clarke has therefore asked me to come to serve in his stead.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I shall endeavor to give you a synopsis in the status of the educational system in this county before, during and after the civil crisis in Liberia. As all of us may be aware, the Liberian civil crisis has left in ruin all sectors of our society, the educational sector in this county is never an exception. In fact, the magnitude of the level of destruction that was done a deadly blow to the entire Sinoe educational system from which it is currently recovering. Having said this let me give you a sketch of how the school system looked like before the civil crisis.
For administrative purposes, the Sinoe county school system was divided into five school district, namely Greenville, Butaw, Jaurzon, Upper and Lower Kpanyan school district. We were having something like 140 to 150 schools through the county. The strength of educational personnel in the county then was around 900 or a little bit more that that. Public school employees, that is, all personnel on the MOE payroll were 605 or 606. the rest were either private, missioner or concession schools workers.
Although there are no statistics to refer to but from what I saw and from what I knew I can only guess that before the crisis, of the total teaching staff on MOE payroll then over 60% were all trained either at the TTIs or locally. Before the crisis the county school system which were all functional. The problem of shortage of manpower was somehow not too acute than as we had some college graduates around to teacher in those high schools. There were also enough "B" and "C" certificate holders or high schools courses with in the county school system. When I came to the question or modern structure, we had few schools erected I the five original school district. Thus you can see what the system was like before the crisis.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I have already mentioned to you that during the course of the conflict, Sinoe educational system was serious damaged. But what that destroyed the system.
1.The county school system suffered brain drain as some qualified teacher, got killed other fled the county and never return, while other left the system for better paid jobs. But what that destroyed the system:
2.some structures were burned down some building were de-roofed and others were massively looted
3.that before the war, teachers from other ethnic grouping were assigned in other are where they served well but as a consequence of the war, those left their areas of assigned and went back to their own homes effused to go to their old assigned areas because fear has now overwhelm them. They would think that since we fought each other people would now want to take revenge. However, we are now trying as a system and are already started to revisit the idea of assigning teachers from other ethnic grouping to areas not their own. As it had worked in the past, we think it can still work. Already I am your humble speaker am assigned in Central Kpanyan and I must admit that with the kind of hospitality with which the people of Kpanyan have receive me I am unable to express it and last but not the least.
4.that books, school furniture and lab equipment were burned or adsorbed by those who many not have know their use or importance.
With the four courts listed above only few scattered schools were able to open their doors to students during the war years very low number of children were able to go to school in the county or the off and on basis. This creates over age children in school today.
At the final end of the entire crisis, conditions, within the county school system became very tough Sinoe county could not reactivate all the name on its pre-war payroll because the ministry of education authorities maintained that the EOs should only submit the names of those who were actively involved with instructional work and that as those who fled the county return they would be absorbed. Some 390 or so personnel were the placed on the county payroll. It took us nearly six years before new reactivation was done brining us to our prewar strength.
I have stated already how we lost some of our qualified man power during the war years. And so after the crisis we had to recruit those who were available. After the war, the number of school district went up to seven as they number schools increased from about 150 to 189. Of the 189 there are 28 private missions schools, the balance 161 schools are government/community based. The total enrollment for this academic year has increased form 23,305 students in 2006/07 to 29,401 in 2007/08 academic year.
Since 2000 to present many new school buildings have Ben erected to improve the system. Our partners have also helped to renovate many of the destroyed school building in the county, school system. Many new school buildings are currently under constructions to help to keep our school in school. The statistics provided above on the increase o enrollment can best be credited to the introduction of free and compulsory educations law enforcement by government.
Questions from the Commissioners:
Commissioner Stewart: what is the school enrollment as it relates boys and girl ratio?
Presenter: We don't have the statistic reading available but based on last year reading we know what we an overall ration of boys to girls in school enrollment to be 2:1 but for element is almost 1:1 but by the time they reach the 7 the grade they are out and they boys will remain.
What would you attribute this drop out of school by girls?
Presenter: Poverty, many people are poor and you see some girls as did as 13 - 14 years and which you ask them they say I am in the 1st grade.
Chairman: is that educational standard of this county comparable to that of other areas?
Presenter: We may not be on par with the people in Monrovia, but compared to other southeastern counties, we are alright.
Is your curriculum having the same standard as the curriculum in Monrovia, and other parts of the country and if so do the schools have completed the curriculum each year?
Presenter: Well, it's difficult for the curriculum to reach us here and as whether we can complete the curriculum its very difficult for any school to just finish curriculum but we can try our best.
How was the national exam here last year?
Presenter: Well I don't have the statistic here to tell you many students sat it but I can fairly say about 40% did past the national exam.
Are you sure of that?
Presenter: Yes
Commissioner Bull: well Mr. Witness I join my colleagues to thank you I know how much Sinoe County has contributed to educational in this county. We wish you to continue because the minister of educational and entire government is dedicated.
Commissioner Stewart: we want to thank you very much for your brilliant presentation and we ask you to convey our sentiments to the county educational officer (CEO).
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