Speaking at the National Education Roundtable Conference on May 3rd, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf declared that the country’s educational system was in need of a “total overhaul.” In April the president had called for this conference in order to address the problems Liberia faces in providing quality education to its population.
According to reports, Liberian schools lack basic materials and programs, including libraries, textbooks, and laboratories. These shortages prevent teachers from providing quality education, and this, stressed the president, impacts Liberia’s development. Still recovering from nearly 15 years of civil war, the country ranks 174th out of 186 countries on the 2013 Human Development Index. Many things, including education, are not up to prewar standards. Though students across West Africa sit exams given by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) each year, Liberia’s students take a special set that differs from those of their peers in neighboring countries. Part of the president’s plan involves improving education enough to enable Liberian students to sit the general WAEC exams. The end goal is for Liberian students to be competitive on the regional, continental, and world stages.
In recent weeks Sirleaf has spoken about improving the quality of primary schools- a top priority, as they form the base of the educational system. She has also noted the need for more vocational schools and career-training programs to serve older students. The president called on the nation’s teachers to speak up and communicate the issues and problems that they face. To solve these problems she urged collaboration between parents, the government, community-based and multilateral organizations, development partners, and the private sector.
In addition to material shortages and low education quality, President Sirleaf also promised to address corruption and theft committed by education sector personnel, including government officials and teachers.
At the end of the Roundtable presentations, the president asked the conference for a report that she hoped would be “realistic, focused and time-bound, identifying immediate and rational steps.”
Creative Commons Love: World Economic Forum on Flickr.com
Comments
About the Author
