TIENPO DARTUKEN, RIVER GEE – In a troubling development for education in River Gee County, Tienpo Dartuken Public School has officially closed its doors for the 2024/2025 academic year due to a critical shortage of teachers. Acting Principal Mr. Michael K. Doe, who has remained in an interim capacity since his retirement in 2019, announced that the school can no longer operate without assigned faculty. Despite 115 students being registered to attend, all have dropped out in the absence of educators, leaving the community deprived of access to formal education.
Located in Electoral District #1 and represented by lawmaker Alexander Poure, Tienpo Dartuken now finds itself at the epicenter of public outrage. Local residents are urgently pleading with the Ministry of Education and their district representative for immediate intervention. Parents have voiced their deep worries that with the school now closed, many children are venturing to nearby gold mining sites, potentially becoming victims of child labor and forfeiting their right to an education.
This situation in River Gee is not an isolated incident. Reports indicate that numerous schools throughout the region have been similarly abandoned due to the dual crises of teacher shortages and deteriorating infrastructure. As educational institutions crumble, the call for government action grows louder, highlighting an urgent need for the revitalization of rural education. Activists and community leaders are pressing for a comprehensive strategy that includes deploying qualified educators, rehabilitating school facilities, and addressing the broader systemic issues affecting education in rural areas.
The closure of Tienpo Dartuken School is a stark reminder of the challenges facing many communities across the country, where the future of an entire generation hangs in the balance. Without immediate and effective action, children in River Gee and beyond risk being left behind, forever hampering their potential and future opportunities. The clock is ticking as community members rally together, hoping their voices will be heard before it’s too late.
