Africa-Press – Liberia. Superintendent Henry Cole on Monday issued an official statement on his Facebook page disapproving the ongoing renovation and ordered an immediate halt to all work, sparking anger and criticism.
The long-lasting problem of Harper Demonstration School is coming to an end, but Maryland County Superintendent Henry Cole has sparked public outrage by ordering an immediate halt to ongoing renovation efforts funded by a private citizen.
A heated public debate has erupted in Maryland County following a controversial order from the County Superintendent, Henry Cole, halting the ongoing renovation of the Harper Demonstration Junior and Senior High School—an institution that currently hosts more than 837 students under dangerous, deteriorating conditions.
For years, the Harper Demonstration Junior and Senior High School has been a glaring symbol of government neglect. With its roof torn off by storms, cracked walls, and waterlogged classrooms, the facility has left over 837 students learning in deplorable, unsafe conditions. Despite repeated calls for help, including formal communication with the Ministry of Education, no tangible government action was taken.
Hope finally arrived this August, 2025 when Dorbor Bedell, a humanitarian and native of Maryland County, volunteered his personal resources to begin renovations on the damaged school. The project, greeted with overwhelming community support, aimed to restore dignity and safety to an institution that once produced many of Liberia’s top public servants.
To public shock, Superintendent Henry Cole on Monday issued an official statement on his Facebook page disapproving the ongoing renovation and ordered an immediate halt to all work. According to his statement, the renovation was initiated without the knowledge or approval of the county administration.
“The administration disapproves of the ongoing renovation at the Demonstration High School,” the statement read. “All work must cease immediately, and those involved will be held accountable if this order is not complied with. This is an administrative decision, not a political one.”
Cole claimed the administration had already been securing funding from appropriate government authorities for the repair and that the project should have been coordinated through official channels to ensure transparency and collaboration.
The decision has triggered a wave of criticism from across the county. Residents, students, civil society leaders, and online commenters have blasted the Superintendent’s action as politically motivated, tone-deaf, and harmful to the welfare of students.
Even on his official Facebook page, Social media commenters have been flooded with critical comments, with over 95 percent of responses opposing the superintendent’s move.
“How can you stop someone who is doing what the government has failed to do for 15 years?” asked a resident of Central Harper. “Children are sitting in rainwater to learn, and now that someone is helping, you call it disrespect?”
In an open letter, civil society advocate Dio Williams strongly condemned the decision, urging Superintendent Cole to reconsider.
“Stopping the renovation not only delays progress but discourages others from helping in the future. Mr. Bedell’s actions were in good faith and meant to serve the public,” Williams wrote.
Principal Emmanuel Dennis, who has managed the school through its years of decay, stated in an interview, “We’ve tried all we can. Our students are not safe, especially in the rainy season. This renovation is needed now—not later.”
Community members and advocacy groups are now calling on the Ministry of Education, lawmakers, and development partners to intervene swiftly and prioritize the welfare and education of Liberia’s next generation.
As it stands, the fate of one of Maryland County’s most historic educational institutions hangs in the balance, caught between bureaucratic procedures and grassroots efforts for change.
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