The Ministry of Education (MoE) has launched an immediate investigation into disturbing reports of alleged corporal punishment at Berea Christian Academy of Excellence (BCAE), located in the Sophie Community, Congo Town. The incident reportedly occurred on Friday, December 12, 2025, and a video circulating on social media shows students being physically assaulted by teachers, sparking outrage among parents, community members, and child rights advocates. According to eyewitness accounts, students who failed their examinations were placed on a so-called “fire list” and subjected to mass flogging. One of the victims, a tenth-grade student identified as Roseline, collapsed after being struck in the stomach with a rod.
Fellow students attempted to revive her by pouring water on her before she was rushed to the Catholic Hospital for emergency treatment. Her younger sister explained: “This morning we were in class, we were told that everybody should come out. Afterwards, a table was brought and the teachers began to beat every student that failed. When they reached my sister’s class, she was called out to be beaten. She said nobody should hold her, but they insisted. In the process, the teacher began to beat her in her stomach. Afterward, she struggled to breathe.” Meanwhile, Roseline’s mother recounted her shock upon receiving the call: “My daughter went to school this morning and I received a call from one of my daughters that Roseline was severely beaten and struggling to breathe.
When I arrived, she had already been taken to the Catholic Hospital. I met her torn uniform in the hands of colleagues. Administrators threatened to punish any student who disclosed what transpired.” Other students reportedly sustained bruises during the mass flogging. However, when community members threatened to involve the police, eyewitnesses claim the school proprietor responded defiantly: “I am an army woman and nobody can do anything to me.” Moreover, community residents expressed frustration, noting that similar incidents had occurred previously.
One parent revealed she withdrew her children from the school last year after her child was beaten and hospitalized. Consequently, the latest incident has reignited debate over the persistence of corporal punishment in Liberian schools, despite clear prohibitions by the Ministry of Education. The Ministry emphasized that corporal punishment is strictly banned in all Liberian schools. In its official statement, the MoE declared: “The safety, dignity, and wellbeing of all learners remain a non-negotiable priority.” In addition, a fact-finding team has been dispatched to engage with the school administration, affected students, parents, and community stakeholders. The Ministry pledged that appropriate administrative actions will be taken once the investigation concludes.
Meanwhile, child rights groups have also weighed in, calling for stronger enforcement of existing laws and accountability for educators who violate them. Advocates argue that corporal punishment not only endangers students physically but also undermines their psychological wellbeing and academic performance. The incident at Berea Christian Academy of Excellence has therefore sparked wider conversations about the role of private schools in Liberia’s education system, the need for stricter oversight, and the importance of safeguarding children’s rights.
As the investigation unfolds, parents and community members continue to demand justice for Roseline and other affected students, insisting that the Ministry’s response must set a precedent for zero tolerance against violence in schools.
