Published: January 16, 2026
JOHNSONVILLE, Montserrado County — Garbage has swallowed the only restroom at Johnsonville Public School, forcing more than 1,000 students to learn without a functional toilet as years of waste dumping and failed interventions turn the campus into a public health hazard.
Johnsonville Public School, a government-run institution serving nursery through senior high levels, has struggled with worsening sanitation conditions that students, parents and school officials say have persisted for years. Piles of waste — blamed on nearby residents and marketers operating in the area from Monday to Saturday — now sit across sections of the campus, producing a stench that lingers over classrooms.
Students described a daily environment of flies moving between the garbage and learning spaces, landing on desks and food, especially during afternoon recess.
“The garbage covers the restroom, and the smell makes learning unbearable,” one student told reporters. “We have protested and complained many times. Promises were made, but nothing has changed.”
Students pushed into unsafe, undignified alternatives
Students and the township commissioner’s office occasionally clear portions of the waste, but students said dumping often resumes within a day. Some blamed disadvantaged youths allegedly hired by nearby residents to dispose of garbage on campus.
With the restroom unusable, students say they are left with few options. Some rush home during school hours, while others pay between L$30 and L$50 to use a nearby public toilet.
“Half of my recess money goes just to use the government toilet,” one student said.
Female students described the situation as especially difficult, citing safety and privacy concerns. Younger pupils — including nursery and kindergarten students who cannot leave campus — are among the hardest hit. Several students said some children defecate in open spaces around the school, while others reportedly use a nearby cemetery.
“As for me, I go to the cemetery often,” one female student said, pointing toward the graveyard adjacent to the campus.
Teachers say they are also affected. A female teacher told reporters she is sometimes forced to dismiss her class early whenever she needs to use the restroom. Even the school’s football field, once used for recreation, has become an open toilet — particularly for kindergarten pupils, students said.
September protest drew arrests, but crisis remains
Frustration boiled over in early September 2025 when students staged a protest, using tractors to transport piles of garbage to nearby market areas, the township commissioner’s office and surrounding streets. Students said the demonstration was meant to draw attention to what they called the continued dumping of waste on school grounds.
The protest led to the arrest of several individuals, including the then principal, who later claimed police charged him for allegedly inciting violence. Despite the attention generated, students say the sanitation crisis remains unresolved.
Parents blame leadership failure
Parents also voiced outrage, calling the situation a breakdown of governance and accountability.
“So many of us do not have the means, which is why our children are still attending this school,” one parent said, accusing school leadership and local authorities of ignoring repeated complaints.
“Even government people dump dirt here, so who do we cry to for help?” parent Aminata Kamara added.
Another parent, Patricia Toe, said the problem has lingered for years.
“This dirt is bad for our children, but when we talk, nothing is done,” she said. “The garbage has been here since I started coming to this school.”
She said the September protest showed the problem is widely known. “This shows that the government itself is aware of the problem,” Toe said.
Principal calls for fencing, urgent support
Principal Victor D. King, who took office in October 2025, acknowledged the sanitation crisis and warned of serious health risks for students and staff.
King said the campus has effectively become a dumping ground for waste from the surrounding community and the nearby market. He noted that nursery and ABC students are the most vulnerable because they cannot leave campus easily like older students.
“There is no functional toilet facility for our students, and our nursery and ABC students are the most affected because they cannot leave the campus like the older students,” King said.
He said he has engaged the township commissioner, parents, the PTA and market authorities, but durable solutions have not been achieved. King said fencing the entire campus is the most effective long-term measure to prevent dumping.
“The only long-term solution is to fence the entire school campus so people cannot come here to dump dirt,” he said.
King said school authorities, permanent township residents and the PTA are discussing fundraising options and appealed to the government, the Ministry of Education, NGOs, parents and the business community for urgent intervention.
“We are also calling on NGOs and the business community to come and see for themselves and help us solve this problem,” he said.
PTA, health technician warn of outbreaks
PTA Chairman Rev. Christopher Jayweah said the association has engaged marketers and community members, but responsibility remains disputed, with dumping often occurring at night.
“Sometimes we burn the garbage or call machines to clear it, but within two or three weeks the dump grows back again,” Jayweah said.
He confirmed that some pupils are defecating around the school and in the nearby cemetery because of the lack of toilets. Jayweah said the PTA plans to fence off parts of the affected area while appealing to the Ministry of Education and other partners for support.
“We hope the Ministry of Education and other authorities will support us to find a permanent solution,” he said.
Environmental Health Technician Irene Bamjam warned that the situation poses serious health risks, including diarrhea and other infections. She said flies moving between garbage, feces and food significantly increase the likelihood of disease transmission.
“Flies sit on feces and then return to food that children are eating — that is extremely dangerous,” Bamjam said.
She said the problem reflects a broader national waste-management challenge, including the lack of a final disposal site. Bamjam urged the government to create designated waste facilities and explore recycling options that could reduce waste while creating jobs.
“Waste can be turned into fertilizer or cooking gas, and that alone can create jobs while protecting public health,” she said.
Officials cite shared responsibility, promise action
Marketing Superintendent Cecelia Kortee acknowledged that garbage dumping on the campus has been a long-running problem, involving both marketers and community residents.
“People keep blaming the marketers, but the dirt is coming from every angle of the community,” she said.
Kortee said she has repeatedly requested security support from the township commissioner to deter dumping, but has not received a response.
“I asked the commissioner, John Randell, to provide security for the area so we can stop the dumping, up to now, I have not received any response,” she said.
Johnsonville Township Commissioner John S. Randell admitted the situation predates his tenure, but said the site remains a dumping ground despite several interventions. He said he plans to remove the waste and fence off the portion of the school bordering the market.
“Between now and the end of this month, I am going to remove all of that waste,” Randell said.
The crisis comes as President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration has placed sanitation enforcement high on its national agenda, including recent crackdowns and arrests aimed at restoring cleanliness in public spaces. But the conditions at Johnsonville Public School are raising questions about whether the national push has reached vulnerable institutions such as public schools.
For now, Johnsonville Public School remains an unsafe learning environment for more than 1,000 students and staff, with parents warning that without urgent action, children will continue to learn amid waste, odor and preventable health threats.
Discussion about this post