Published: July 29, 2025
Gbarnga, Bong County — The Ministry of Education has suspended a high school teacher in Gbarnga, Bong County, after accusations that he impregnated a female student.
The accused, Julius Sevelee, known locally as “Chemical J”. was suspended from Nathaniel Varney Massaquoi High School after the student’s father filed a rape complaint with police. Though investigators later dropped the rape charge, the Ministry took administrative action under its Code of Conduct, citing Section. 6.3.1.2(d), which prohibits any sexual relationship between teachers and students.
Bong County Education Officer David Boakai confirmed Sevelee’s suspension, which took effect immediately on July 25. He said the teacher is prohibited from entering the school or contacting any student or staff while a five-day investigation is ongoing.
A copy of the suspension letter obtained by The Liberian Investigator highlights that violating the terms could result in further penalties, including termination.
Sevelee stated the Ministry’s decision and denied any wrongdoing.
“This suspension provides the appropriate space for a thorough and impartial investigation,” he said. “I therefore humbly plead that the ongoing investigation be conducted void of bias, prejudice, or external influence, so that truth and justice may prevail.”
He pledged to cooperate fully with authorities.
Public Outcry and Growing Demands for Reform
The case has sparked a wave of public concern, especially among women’s rights groups and education advocates in Bong County.
“This is not a one-time thing,” said a local women’s rights advocate during a radio broadcast. “Sexual abuse of our girls in schools is becoming too common. We want answers, and we want them fast.”
The incident has renewed frustrations over so-called “sex-for-grades” schemes that reportedly affect several schools across the county. Activists say female students are often pressured into relationships with teachers in exchange for academic favors, a pattern many believe continues due to weak enforcement and cultural silence.
A Pattern of Abuse in Schools
This is not the first time education officials have faced such allegations in Bong County.
In 2021 and 2022, the Ministry of Education dismissed several staff members from the CAN Leadership Academy (formerly Alexandria Alexis Andrews Academy) after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct involving schoolgirls. The decision came after internal investigations and resulted in the appointment of a female principal to rebuild trust and promote gender-sensitive leadership.
Nationwide Crackdown Still Ongoing
The Ministry has taken disciplinary action against dozens of educators across Liberia In recent years, especially in counties like Nimba, Montserrado, Bong, and Margibi. and Grand Bassa.
In 2023 alone, at least 17 teachers were suspended or fired for offenses ranging from sexual harassment to coercive relationships, according to the Division of School Supervision and Monitoring.
“We are working hard to sanitize our school system,” an MOE official said during a 2024 press briefing. “No teacher should ever abuse their power over a student.”
A Regional Crisis of Exploitation
The problem goes beyond Liberia. In 2019, the BBC Africa Eye documentary Sex for Grades revealed professors in Ghana and Nigeria harassing students for academic favors. The investigation prompted widespread reforms and exposed systemic abuse in West African educational institutions.
That documentary raised public awareness and prompted calls across the region for new protections, including reporting mechanisms, whistleblower support, and stronger enforcement.
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