MONROVIA, Montserrado – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has threatened to close down schools that participated in the student demonstration in Margibi on Monday and Tuesday.

Sirleaf spoke on Wednesday at the Roberts International Airport on arrival from the United States.

She said the Ministry of Education would launch an immediate investigation into the matter and any teacher found being linked to the students’ action would also be dismissed. The president said the actions of the students was ruthless and unacceptable.

Traffic clogged on the road from Harbel. Photo: Gbatemah Senah

Students from public schools in Lower Margibi, including Harbel Multilateral High School, Robert Stanley Caulfield Public School, and the Dolo Town, Peter Town, and Roberts International Airport Public Schools yesterday staged a protest at the intersection connecting Roberts International Airport, the highway to Monrovia, and the road to Firestone. They were protesting the absence of their teachers in the classroom.

They placed road blocks preventing vehicle movements to and from the airport, Monrovia, and Firestone.

Public schools in Kakata also staged a similar protest on Monday.

Margibi Superintendent John Buway said the eight window glasses at the Margibi Service Center and some chairs in the county’s conference hall were also destroyed as a result of the protest.

Travelers and airport users were also affected by the students at RIA.

Featured photo by Gbatemah Senah