Monrovia — The President of the Tappita District University and College Students Association (TADUCSA), Effort N. Karr, has called on the University of Liberia administration to urgently resume academic activities, proposing online classes and the use of the Fendall campus to prevent further disruption to students’ education.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh
In a press statement issued Tuesday, October 13, Karr appealed to University of Liberia President Dr. Layli Maparyan and her administration to introduce alternative learning arrangements while renovation work continues at the university’s main campus.
The appeal comes amid the suspension of academic activities at the University of Liberia following strike actions by the University of Liberia Faculty and Staff Association over staff and faculty benefits and concerns about the institution’s deplorable conditions.
It is not yet clear whether the demands for faculty and staff benefits that prompted the strike have been addressed. Meanwhile, renovation work has commenced at the university’s Capitol Hill campus, leaving students awaiting clarity on when academic activities will resume.
The disruption has left students waiting for classes to resume, raising concerns about potential delays to academic calendars, graduation plans and future opportunities.
Karr, who represents students from Tappita Statutory District in Nimba County attending tertiary institutions across Liberia, said the university’s infrastructure improvements were necessary but should not bring academic activities to a complete standstill when alternative arrangements could be made.
“Our position is clear: Renovation should improve the university, not unnecessarily suspend the education of its students,” Karr said.
He noted that while several other universities across Liberia had commenced academic activities, University of Liberia students remained uncertain about when regular classes would resume.
According to him, the administration should consider practical measures that would allow students to continue their education without waiting for renovation work to be completed.
Proposes Online Classes, Fendall Campus
Karr outlined three recommendations he believes could help minimize the disruption.
First, he called on the administration to introduce online classes for students assigned to the main campus, where renovation work is ongoing. He argued that virtual learning would allow students to continue their academic programs while physical improvements proceed.
Second, he urged the university to consider resuming regular in-person classes at its Fendall campus, provided the necessary facilities and learning conditions are available.
The proposal, he said, would allow students who can be accommodated at Fendall to return to classrooms rather than remain idle during the interruption.
Third, Karr called for the administration to communicate a clear reopening plan, including a timeline for the resumption of academic activities and arrangements to ensure equitable access to learning opportunities for students at both campuses.
He said clear communication would help students plan their academic and personal lives while reducing uncertainty surrounding the university’s operations.
Warns of Consequences for Students
The TADUCSA president said prolonged delays in the resumption of classes could have significant consequences for students who have invested time, money and personal sacrifices in pursuing higher education.
He emphasized that students’ educational aspirations should remain central to decisions concerning the university’s operations, particularly when disruptions threaten to extend their time in school.
“Students invest their time, financial resources, and aspirations in their education,” Karr said, warning that prolonged delays could affect academic calendars, graduation plans and future opportunities.
He acknowledged the importance of infrastructural development, noting that improved facilities are essential to creating a better learning environment. However, he argued that renovation and academic activities should be coordinated to avoid unnecessary interruptions.
For students, the concern extends beyond the temporary closure of classrooms to the uncertainty surrounding when they will be able to return and how the interruption might affect their academic progress.
Karr said the administration could address these concerns through responsible planning, constructive dialogue and practical arrangements that allow learning to continue while renovation work is underway.
Calls for Constructive Engagement
Karr stressed that his appeal was not intended to criticize the university administration but to draw attention to the difficulties students are facing.
He urged Maparyan and the relevant authorities to give the proposals serious consideration and take appropriate steps toward reopening academic activities.
“As a student leader, I believe that constructive dialogue, responsible leadership, and practical planning can help address this challenge in the best interest of the student population,” he said.
The Tappita District University and College Students Association brings together students from Tappita Statutory District who are pursuing tertiary education at institutions across Liberia. A significant number of its members attend the University of Liberia, making the disruption particularly consequential for the association’s constituency.
Karr said the association remained committed to advocating for quality education and student welfare, expressing hope that the administration would respond positively to the appeal.
His proposed measures offer possible alternatives to a prolonged suspension of academic activities, although their implementation would depend on the university’s capacity to support online instruction, the readiness of the Fendall campus and decisions by the administration.
The immediate challenge for the university is to address the concerns that prompted the faculty and staff strike while determining how best to restore academic activities and minimize further disruption to students.
For Karr and the students he represents, the central message is that infrastructure improvements and uninterrupted learning should not be treated as competing priorities.
“Education must continue, even while development is taking place,” he said.