MONROVIA — Montserrado County Senator Saah Hardy Joseph has known as on authorities of the Ministry of Training (MOE) and the Liberia Nationwide Police (LNP) to rethink their newest resolution to ban gala day parades by faculties working throughout the nation.
By Obediah Johnson
In Liberia, a Gala Day Parade, is a colourful and spirited occasion usually held to boost a college’s Gala Day Celebration on the finish of an educational yr. It entails a public procession that includes college students, lecturers, and generally cultural or neighborhood teams marching by means of the streets with band, music, dance, costumes, and banners.
It may be recalled that that on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, the MOE and LNP collectively introduced the rapid enforcement of a nationwide ban on avenue parades related to Gala Day, commencement ceremonies, and WASSCE celebrations. The transfer comes amid rising security issues and growing incidents of public dysfunction.
The crackdown targets spontaneous pupil processions, a lot of which have escalated into harmful actions involving minors using on high of shifting automobiles, obstructing site visitors, and in some circumstances, struggling severe accidents.
“The security and success of each Liberian baby stays our utmost precedence. Allow us to work collectively to foster an surroundings of order, pleasure, and accountable celebration,” Training Minister Jarso Jallah acknowledged.
However talking on the OK Morning Rush on OK FM 99.5 by way of phone from america on Thursday, June 19, 2025, Senator Joseph mentioned the federal government, by means of the LNP and MOE, ought to rethink its resolution and put into place measures to control gala day celebrations in Liberia.
“I wish to make an interesting assertion to the Ministry of Training and the Liberia Nationwide Police as Senator of Montserrado County to please rethink their resolution and permit these college students to march. What must be positioned so as is for presidency to name on the Principals of the faculties to return and have a dialogue,” Senator Joseph acknowledged.
He mentioned authorities ought to clearly mandate college authorities or Principals to abide by particular measures earlier than their faculties are allowed to host gala day parades.
He careworn that gala day parades are crucial not solely to the scholars, however mother and father, neighborhood dwellers and the society on the whole.
He added that these parades inspired mother and father to ship their youngsters to high school, and appeal to college students to be severe to enroll at these establishments of studying.
“The explanation these college students parade is as a result of they’re going to encourage their pals which are sitting house and don’t wish to attend school-It encourages them to return to high school,” he mentioned.
Senator Joseph emphasised that gala day parades additionally foster constructive competitions amongst faculties within the nation and as such, authorities ought to rescind its ban positioned on avenue parade by college students throughout gala day celebrations.
He mentioned most of the faculties will not be ideally positioned inside numerous communities throughout Liberia and as such, college authorities and college students are constrained to take to the streets to parade.
He added that the congestion of those communities and the dearth of sports activities stadium compelled these college authorities and college students to parade on the streets throughout gala day celebrations.
“The neighborhood dwellers or residents in these communities additionally respect seeing these college students marching. Because of this all people comes on the street when faculties are parading; they’re there waiving and inspiring them.”
He acknowledged that on the finish of an educational yr, these gala day parades additionally function an avenue for college kids to unite and play after a protracted tutorial yr.
Senator Joseph additional known as on authorities to place in place laws, as an alternative of banning avenue parades throughout gala day celebrations of faculties in Liberia.
He, nonetheless, vowed to buy and donate a brand new set of marching bands to the varsity that might be chosen for the perfect drills by the Ministry of Training through the celebration of this yr Flag Day on August 24 in Liberia.
