VOINJAMA, Lofa — School proprietors and educators in Lofa County are raising concerns about plummeting student enrollment numbers this academic year, linking the trend to the enduring influence of the Sandy Society. This cultural institution, deeply rooted in local customs, has been at the center of controversy, especially with its ties to practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which was recently banned in Liberia.
Mr. Kolubah B. Akoi, the proprietor of Akoi’s Royal Academy High School, expressed his concerns over the impact of these traditional activities on education. “Most of our students’ attendance [report] cards remain untouched as families divert funds to traditional practices, neglecting educational responsibilities,” he said. “Our classrooms stand empty, reflecting a broader disregard for formal education.”
Echoing Akoi’s sentiment, Mr. T. Jackson Jallah, Principal of the Kormah Shepherd Hood Mission School System and head of the Private Schools Association in Voinjama, pointed out the challenges posed by the lack of support from the national government. “We are meant to support government efforts in education, yet we face an uphill battle with low enrollment due to these traditional activities, which has put our operations at risk since we depend on tuition fees,” Jallah explained.
This traditional practices are continuing despite landmark moves by the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia (NACCEL) to curb traditional practices that hinder modern societal progress. On February 6, 2023, NACCEL, under the leadership of Chief Zanzan Karwor, formally banned FGM in Liberia—a practice deeply intertwined with the activities of the Sandy Society. The ban was part of a broader initiative to end FGM while preserving valuable cultural practices such as singing, dancing, and weaving, promoting “initiation without mutilation.”
Despite these efforts, compliance has been uneven, particularly in Lofa County, where the ban’s implementation has faced resistance due to strong cultural ties and the secretive nature of the societies involved. As traditional activities continue, educational administrators like Mr. Payvay Kullie report dire consequences. “Just this Saturday, more girls were taken into the bush for Sandy Society activities, leaving our schools financially crippled and unable to operate,” Kullie reported.
The persistence of these practices occurs against a backdrop of international support for the FGM ban. In a joint statement on February 20, 2023, international partners in Liberia commended the ban as a crucial step towards eliminating harmful cultural practices. They highlighted ongoing efforts to engage community leaders and provide alternative livelihoods for practitioners, ensuring traditional rites of passage are maintained without causing harm.
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