By Melvin Jackson Melvinflomo11@gmail.com
Some two hundred 12th graders of the Special Project High School risk not graduating this 2021/2022.
This is so because of a financial nightmare that has hit the graduating class (2021-2022) as 300 thousand Liberian dollars is yet to be accounted for by the institution.
The Special Project High School is being operated by the government of Liberia, located in the Stephen Tolbert Estate area on the Japan Freeway (Somalia Drive).
The Stage Media investigation uncovered that since the students claimed the 300 thousand, the administration has allegedly failed to fully intervene in the financial malpractice on the campus under their watchful eyes.
The hook is in the throat of Saah Jomah Kromah, the man the school’s administration, appointed as the academic year’s graduating class sponsor.
Before the national exam, according to information, Kromah mandated the students to pay the sum of five thousand Liberian dollars each for the so intent to implement a class project, as is done for many graduating seniors.
At times, the money collected by students is used to pay “Flexibility fees,” a fee ordered to pay examiners to allow students to share ideas during national examinations.
Our sources said about 84 students made various payments amounting to over L$3000.00 (Three hundred thousand).
Our sources said that since the money in question was collected, the accused, Kromah, has refused to give a good account of the funds to the students and school as he highly takes calls from the students and is not seen in public places.
The act by the graduating class sponsor of the government-run Special Project School is causing panic, confusion, and misunderstanding among the students whose parents are hopefully waiting to see them walk out of high school walls very soon.
No definite date has been announced for the school’s graduation this academic year.
Our investigation further disclosed that despite the money collected from the students by sponsor Kromah for what he considers as flexibility fees, over two hundred students failed in English in the just-ended West African Senior Certificate Examination(WASSEC exam).
Meanwhile, when The Stage Media contacted the District Education officer, who refused to call her name, she confirmed the incident.
“We have taken action on the matter” she, however, appealed to our reporter to schedule a proper engagement Wednesday, Sept 7, for more clarities.
If the situation is not managed, the students may wait for the next graduating class of 2022/2023 before leaving high school.
Investigation continues