MONROVIA – The Monrovia Consolidated School System Teachers’ Association has issued a seven-working-day ultimatum to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to recall the appointed MCSS Assistant Superintendent, Emmanuel Kyne Robertson, threatening to block Mr. Robertson from entering his office if the ultimatum is not met. They claim his appointment is illegal.
Addressing a news conference on Wednesday in Monrovia, Augustine N. Nyormui, President of the Monrovia Consolidated School System Teachers’ Association (MCSSTA), emphasized that Mr. Robertson’s appointment by President Boakai violates Chapter 2, Section 24d of the MCSS 1964 Act.
Nyormui explained that this chapter places the responsibility for employing all MCSS staff, including the Assistant Superintendent, squarely on the MCSS Superintendent or City Superintendent of Schools, as specified in the document.
“The chapter mandates the MCSS Superintendent to follow established procedures in hiring and dismissing staff members, subject to approval by the MCSS Council. Contrary to this, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. appointed Mr. Emmanuel Kyne Robertson as a volunteer Assistant Superintendent, a clear violation of the MCSS chapter as mentioned,” Mr. Nyormui asserted.
Further criticizing the appointment, the MCSSTA president noted that the Assistant Superintendent position is a civil service role, not one for presidential appointment. He accused the President of illegally removing Mr. Samuel M. Johnson from the Assistant Superintendent post and replacing him with Mr. Robertson.
“We are giving President Boakai seven working days from today to recall Mr. Emmanuel Kyne Robertson. We maintain that Superintendent Momoh has shown excellent performance and progress in just a few months,” Mr. Nyormui emphasized.
He also revealed that since Mr. Robertson’s unconstitutional appointment, he has not received his presidential appointment letter and has not been placed on the MCSS payroll since March 2024.
Despite the constitutional violation, Nyormui added, the embattled Assistant Superintendent continues to occupy the office, sign major documents, and attend stakeholder meetings, while Mr. Johnson remains on the MCSS payroll as Assistant Superintendent. “We see this as a flagrant violation of the MCSS 1964 Act,” he declared.
Additionally, Mr. Nyormui accused Mr. Robertson of grossly disrespecting constituted authorities within the MCSS, claiming that the embattled deputy is importing unknown ‘gangsters’ to intimidate peaceful employees and ‘sponsoring’ unknown students to denigrate system authorities.
“That Mr. Robertson is incompetent for this position is evidenced by his lack of plans to conduct teachers’ workshops since March of this year. We have noticed that Mr. Robertson is instigating violence and causing confusion among employees on a regular basis,” he noted.
Nyormui also criticized Mr. Robertson’s lack of professionalism, citing unauthorized press conferences and talk shows aimed at castigating MCSS authorities.
“Another troubling instance is Mr. Robertson’s unilateral decision to return a teacher to the classroom after being recalled to the central office by former Superintendent Zawolo for allegations of sexual harassment and extortion of money from students in his own sponsored class at Williams V.S. Tubman High School,” Nyormui stated.
The MCSSTA President further accused Mr. Robertson of administrative ineptitude, citing his alleged public denigration of the Orange Liberia partnership with MCSS, which aims to provide greater opportunities for teachers and students, including infrastructure modernization.
Nyormui has issued a stern warning, threatening to mobilize MCSSTA members to shut down all schools within the system and prevent student registration until Robertson is recalled within the seven-day period. He also vowed to prevent the embattled Assistant Superintendent from accessing his office and warned him against using the official vehicle assigned to the post.
Meanwhile, Mr. Robertson, in several radio talk shows and news conferences, clarified that the MCSSTA’s demand for his recall is due to the uncompromised reforms he has implemented.
“Previously, schools were selling uniforms to struggling students at exorbitant prices. Since my appointment, I’ve ensured this practice has ended, and no MCSS school is selling uniforms to any student this academic year,” he stated.
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