Big Boost for Liberia’s Education: EU and UNICEF Give €2 Million to Support Schools and Skills Training

By Desmond Gbeleh Wion

Monrovia, Capitol Hill – There’s good news for Liberia’s struggling education sector. The Ministry of Education has just signed a €2 million grant deal with the European Union (EU) and UNICEF to improve the country’s education data system and give more young people access to vocational skills training.

The signing ceremony happened at the Ministry of Education in Monrovia, with big names from the government, the EU Delegation, and UNICEF present. The deal is meant to help fix some of the major problems in Liberia’s schools and training programs.

Part of the money will go toward upgrading Liberia’s Education Management Information System, or EMIS. This is the system that helps the Ministry track things like student enrollment, teacher performance, school supplies, and more.

Education Minister Dr. Jarso Jallah said the grant is a “big step forward” in making the education sector smarter and more efficient. She thanked the EU and UNICEF for their strong support and promised that the money will be used wisely.

“Our schools, teachers, and students need better planning and support,” Dr. Jallah said. “This grant will help us get the right information to make better decisions—especially for rural areas where the challenges are big.”

She also assured the public that there will be full transparency and accountability in how the money is spent.

The second part of the grant will be used to improve Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). This is the kind of hands-on training that helps young people learn skills they can use to get real jobs—like plumbing, carpentry, tailoring, electricity, and more.

Many young people in Liberia are out of school or can’t find jobs, so this support comes at just the right time.

The program will also work along with the Ministry of Youth and Sports. According to Abdallah Housseini, Director for Youth Planning, there are still issues like old curriculum, lack of funds, and poor monitoring that are stopping vocational training from reaching its full potential. But with this new funding, he believes things can start to improve.

The EU, UNICEF, World Bank, UNIDO, and UNESCO all gave their blessing to the project. EU Ambassador to Liberia, Nona Leprez, said the EU has already spent over US$40 million supporting skills training in Liberia.

“Education is not just about books and classrooms—it’s about giving young people a future,” she said. “With this support, we’re helping Liberian youth stand on their own and be ready for the job market.”

UNICEF Country Representative Andrew Brooks said that education should be for everyone, and that both EMIS and TVET reforms are necessary to make sure every child and young person in Liberia has a chance to succeed.

The government says it’s fully behind the project. Deputy Government Spokesperson Daniel Sando said the grant fits right into President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s vision for a well-structured and inclusive education system.

“This money will help us fix the broken parts of our education system,” Sando said. “And we promise to manage it properly and make sure every dollar goes to the right place.”

The Ministry of Education says the new EMIS will help it gather better information on things like teacher numbers, school buildings, learning results, and student attendance—things that are very important for planning and improving schools.

At the same time, the vocational training part will open doors for thousands of young Liberians who are not in regular school or are struggling to find work.

As Liberia continues to rebuild and improve its education system, this €2 million grant is a clear sign that the international community still believes in the country’s future. If used wisely, this support could help change many lives and raise the standard of education across Liberia.