GBARNGA — The Rural Universities and Faculties School Affiliation of Liberia (RUCEFAL) has introduced the graduation of an indefinite nationwide financial strike motion starting September 24, 2025, citing persistent wage disparities and poor working circumstances at rural public establishments.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
The choice was reached throughout an Emergency Basic Meeting held nearly on September 11, 2025. School representatives from 9 establishments participated, together with Grand Bassa College, Bomi County Group School, Bong County Technical School, Lofa County College, Grand Gedeh College School, Grand Kru College, Margibi College, Nimba College, and Sinoe County Group School.
In response to RUCEFAL, the strike is in response to what it describes because the Authorities of Liberia’s continued failure to deal with long-standing disparities in salaries and advantages between rural public universities and faculties and their counterparts on the College of Liberia and William V.S. Tubman College.
In an announcement issued by the RUCEFAL Secretariat, the affiliation expressed frustration over what it says is a scarcity of substantive dedication from each the Government Department and the Nationwide Legislature, regardless of months of engagement with key stakeholders.
RUCEFAL detailed a timeline of official actions, together with the submission of a proper petition to President Joseph Nyumah Boakai on February 12, 2025. The petition referred to as for intervention on wage inequities.
Following the petition, the President instructed the Nationwide Fee on Increased Schooling (NCHE) to conduct a complete evaluate of the disparities. The NCHE accomplished its investigation and submitted suggestions to the Workplace of the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs between March and Could.
Additional follow-up was carried out by RUCEFAL with Performing Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Hadja Mamaka Bility. A renewed request for motion was submitted to her workplace on August 14, 2025, urging swift implementation of the NCHE’s suggestions.
RUCEFAL additionally met with lawmakers together with Honorable Nyahn G. Flomo, Chair of the Home Committee on Schooling, and Honorable Nathanael F. McGill, Chair of the Senate Committee on Schooling, to hunt legislative assist for a decision. Nonetheless, the affiliation studies that these engagements haven’t resulted in any tangible motion.
The school affiliation is now demanding the institution of a proper Collective Bargaining Settlement between the Authorities of Liberia and RUCEFAL to make sure that salaries and advantages are standardized consistent with these provided on the College of Liberia and Tubman College.
The affiliation believes rural college ought to be compensated pretty primarily based on their {qualifications} and expertise.
RUCEFAL additionally introduced a monetary breakdown of the 2025 nationwide price range. The full allocation for the 9 RUCEFAL-affiliated establishments is presently 9,462,544 United States {dollars}. Of this quantity, 5,665,502.40 {dollars} is designated for salaries, whereas 3,797,041.60 {dollars} covers items and companies.
In response to RUCEFAL, a further 6,590,109.60 {dollars} is required to convey the full to 16,052,653.60 {dollars} to adequately meet operational and personnel wants.
Past wage fairness, the affiliation is looking for different key advantages together with transportation and housing assist for college, life insurance coverage, analysis allowances, and particular relocation incentives for college assigned to rural counties. It additionally requires the institution of a complete college improvement program particularly tailor-made for rural establishments.
As a part of the strike decision, RUCEFAL has directed all tutorial employees members at affiliated establishments to droop tutorial actions and chorus from attending campus starting September 24. The strike will stay in impact till their calls for are met.
The affiliation acknowledged that the strike will not be solely about monetary parity but in addition about broader systemic points together with poor infrastructure, lack of educational funding, and unsatisfactory circumstances of service at rural faculties and universities.
As of the time of this report, the Authorities of Liberia has not issued any formal response to the strike declaration. It’s unclear whether or not the Ministry of Schooling or the NCHE will take steps to intervene earlier than the strike disrupts the tutorial calendar.
Some college and scholar leaders have raised considerations concerning the potential influence on college students, notably these getting ready for commencement or examinations within the present semester.
