The administration of the Bong County Technical College (BCTC) on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, convened an emergency meeting with students to address concerns surrounding the ongoing strike by the Rural Universities and Colleges Faculty Association of Liberia (RUCFAL). The meeting, held on the BCTC campus, aimed to update students on the current academic disruption resulting from the nationwide industrial action by faculty members across rural public colleges and universities. According to Mr. Moses Barwror, Dean of Student Services at BCTC, the emergency session was also meant to reassure students of the administration’s commitment to restoring normal academic activities.
He disclosed that senior management, including College President Dr. Alfredson Tarkarweah, had traveled to Monrovia to engage the officials of government, and the Civil Service Agency (CSA) in resolving the ongoing crisis. Speaking during the meeting, BCTC’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Eric Forkpah, urged students to remain committed to their registration processes and academic preparations. He assured them that activities would resume shortly upon the return of the college's delegation from the capital. Dr. Forkpah also acknowledged the legitimacy of the faculty’s concerns, emphasizing that the welfare of lecturers must be addressed regardless of their institutional or geographic affiliations.
Representing the Student Council Leadership, Vice President, Grace Johnson, called on students to remain calm and patient while the administration sought resolution. She, however, warned that the council is prepared to escalate the issue nationally should normal academic operations fail to resume within a reasonable timeframe. Some students, during the meeting lauded the administration for the acknowledgment, but threatened to "Go-slow" should the government fails to intervene timely. The ongoing RUCFAL strike, which began on Wednesday, September 27, 2025, has paralyzed operations in several rural institutions.
Faculty members have cited salary disparities and systemic neglect as major reasons for the action. The association has vowed to continue the strike until at least the issue of unequal pay is resolved. The strike currently affects nine public institutions of higher learning, including those in Bong, Nimba, Bomi, and Lofa Counties, among others.
