Published: June 3, 2026
MORRIS FARM, Todee District — Hundreds of school-age children in the Morris American Rubber Company (MARCO) plantation community have been forced out of school following the company’s closure in 2022, leaving many parents unable to afford private education outside the plantation.
The closure came after workers staged repeated protests over more than 20 months of unpaid salary arrears owed by management. The shutdown not only left over 200 employees without jobs but also resulted in the closure of the plantation’s school and clinic, cutting off access to education and health services for residents.
For years, the MARCO Elementary and Junior High School provided affordable and accessible education to children of plantation workers. Today, many of those children remain out of school, while others face long and dangerous commutes to schools in Kakata. Community members say the situation has exposed many teenagers to drugs, alcohol and other social vices.
Norah Vamah, a resident of the Morris Farm community, said parents are struggling with both the financial burden and safety concerns associated with sending their children to schools outside the plantation.
“I am not happy that my children have to walk on the road every day to attend school. It is risky for them, and it is my hope that the school will reopen this year,” Vamah said.
She also appealed to the Liberian government to intervene and help facilitate the reopening of the plantation, noting that economic conditions in the area continue to deteriorate.
Former MARCO driver Peter Kolleh described the situation as heartbreaking, especially for workers who are still waiting to receive years of unpaid salary arrears.
“Imagine looking for money just to buy a cup of rice. Where will you find money to send your children to school?” Kolleh asked.
Satta Sackie, another resident, said the closure has placed an additional financial burden on her family. To support her children’s education, she now sells bitter balls and pepper and works in rubber nursery production to earn income.
“The responsibility that the company once carried has now been transferred to struggling parents,” she said.
MARCO, a privately owned rubber plantation located in Todee District, Rural Montserrado County, ceased operations after workers repeatedly protested poor management practices, labor conditions and months of unpaid salaries. The shutdown led to the layoff of more than 200 workers and disrupted the livelihoods of hundreds of families who depended on the company for employment, education and health services.
Residents are now calling on the government and relevant stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the crisis, warning that an entire generation of children risks being deprived of education if the situation remains unresolved.
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