Fact-Check: Correct, MOE Fines Laying Kids Foundation L$150K for Overcharging Students
Patrick Moryor—Margibi Fellow
Claim: "Ministry of Education fined the Laying Kids Foundation Daycare, Nursery, Kindergarten & Elementary School L$ 150,000 for overcharging K-2 graduation fees."
Source: William Decent Toe, ELBC Lower Margibi County Correspondent
Verdict: Correct, MOE Laying Kids Foundation Daycare, Nursery, Kindergarten & Elementary School L$ 150,000 for violating MOE-prescribed graduation fees.
Full text: William Decent Toe is the ELBC Lower Margibi County Correspondent. On June 10, 2025, Toe posted on his official Facebook account that the Ministry of Education, through its local branch in Margibi County fined the Laying Kids Foundation Daycare, Nursery, Kindergarten & Elementary School in Barclay Farm Community, Lower Margibi County for overcharging the kindergarten graduation fee.
He further claimed that the school had initially charged each graduating K-2 student an amount of US$ 85 instead of the L$5,000 prescribed by the government for kindergarten graduation.
Journalist Toe claimed that a fine of L$ 150,000.00 was imposed on the school by Joe Flomo, the Ministry of Education Farmington district education officer, who is in District #2, Lower Margibi County.
Verification: To verify this claim, we reached out to Flomo, Farmington District Education Officer, via phone call; he acknowledged that the school was fined the stipulated amount for grossly violating the ministry policy knowingly.
He noted that the preliminary clearances issued to prospective graduates of the above school show that they are to pay a huge sum of US$ 85 instead of the LD 5,000 MoE-approved fee for such a level.
Flomo noted that prior to the start of the 2024/2025 academic year, all schools in Lower Margibi County were warned of the prescribed graduation fees for all levels, including K-2, but surprisingly, the schools chose to go contrary and violate the ministry policy, which warrants penalties.
He lamented that it’s unfortunate to see a grass-roots school going against ministry policy and doing things on the opposite. Adding that a penalty would serve as a deterrent to other schools that would love to do such as the academic year comes to an end.
Flomo told our Margibi County Fellow that he had already instructed the administration of the school to deposit said amount of L$ 150,000.00 into the government's revenue.
Flomo reaffirmed his commitment to fully implement the ministry policies across his operational areas without compromise or fear, adding that it’s time that school owners and authorities begin to respect and uphold the ministry rules and regulations.
Conclusion: With the confirmation from DEO, Joe Flomo, we can confirm that the claim is correct: Laying Kids Foundation Daycare, Nursery, Kindergarten & Elementary School was fined L$ 150,000 for violating MoE graduation policy.
