The Ministry of Education has imposed a LRD 500,000 fine on St. Teresa Convent Catholic School, ordered disciplinary proceedings against supervising staff, and issued a nationwide ban preventing Liberian rapper Christoph the Change from performing at school-related events for the remainder of the academic year, concluding that a February 7 performance constituted a serious breach of student safeguarding obligations.
In a February 25 enforcement statement, the Ministry said the event involved indecent exposure before students and represented a failure of duty of care and supervision standards required under Liberia's Education Reform Act and the Code of Conduct for Liberian Schools.
The sanctions mark the most decisive action yet in a controversy that has drawn public scrutiny, a formal condemnation from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and a structured response from the school's Parent-Teacher Association.
Beyond the financial penalty, the Ministry mandated disciplinary proceedings against administrators and teachers responsible for supervision, requiring evidence of action to be submitted. It also ordered a formal apology and corrective action plan from the school and directed coordinated student counseling and parental engagement through the Montserrado County Education Office.
Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines
Significantly, the Ministry disclosed that school administrators failed to attend a scheduled meeting convened to address the matter and provided no written justification for their absence -- a lapse it deemed a violation of statutory obligations.
Under Liberia's Education Reform Act of 2011, schools bear a legal "duty of care" to protect students from harm, including exposure to inappropriate or sexually explicit material during school-sponsored activities. The Code of Conduct further requires proper supervision of extracurricular events and administrative vetting of invited guests. Once an activity is held on campus or under school sponsorship, responsibility rests with the institution, regardless of student involvement in organizing the event.
Christoph The Change, whose legal name is Christopher Nyenga, responded promptly and publicly to the Ministry's decision, stating that he respects the nationwide prohibition and will use the period to reflect. "I want to reiterate my sincere apologies once again to the students, staff, parents, and everyone who were offended by my actions," he wrote.
Earlier, the St. Teresa Convent PTA acknowledged that the performance departed from the school's Catholic values and confirmed that prior agreements had been made regarding approved songs. The PTA stated that only Christoph violated the agreed setlist and yielded to demands for sexually explicit content. It endorsed disciplinary action against students involved in organizing the event and called for stricter vetting of future entertainment.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
The Ministry's enforcement follows initial criticism that its early response had appeared cautious, as it first moved to verify the circumstances surrounding the event. With the fine, ban, and disciplinary directives now imposed, the Ministry signaled a firmer posture, stating that student safety and proper supervision are non-negotiable obligations across all institutions.
For the broader education sector, the MOE has sent a clear message that safeguarding standards are enforceable and, where breaches occur, consequences will follow -- not only for performers, but for the institutions responsible for protecting the children in their care.
