By Desmond Gbeleh Wion
GANTA, NIMBA COUNTY – In a bold push to uplift Liberia’s struggling education sector, Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung has officially dedicated a brand-new, state-of-the-art senior high school in Gompa City, Nimba County — a US$1.6 million facility he hailed as “a beacon of hope and opportunity.”
Standing in for President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, who was attending a separate event in Bong County, Koung described the new school as a symbol of the government’s serious commitment to education, equity, and national development.
“This is not just a building,” Koung told a cheering crowd. “It is a powerful investment in the minds and futures of our young people.”
World Bank-Backed, Community-Driven
Funded by the World Bank through the International Development Association (IDA), the school is part of a larger US$47 million national education project aimed at expanding access to quality education across Liberia.
Vice President Koung thanked the local community, especially Mr. Francis Nya Manweahn, who donated the land, and applauded the Ministry of Education’s leadership in seeing the project through.
The school’s modern design includes:
15 classrooms, 2 science labs, Computer, lab & library, dedicated toilets for boys, girls, teachers, and students with disabilities, Conference hall, palaver huts, offices & storerooms, Sports facilities (football, basketball & volleyball courts) Solar power, safe water supply, and security fencing, with a capacity of about 1,000 students, the facility is considered one of the most advanced secondary schools in rural Liberia.
Part of the ‘ARREST’ Agenda
Koung emphasized that the school reflects the Boakai administration’s ARREST Agenda — a policy platform focused on Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism — and Liberia’s Education Sector Plan.
“Education is the foundation of every thriving nation,” he said. “Through schools like this, we are planting seeds that will grow Liberia’s next leaders, doctors, engineers, and innovators.”
He also reaffirmed the government’s push to improve teacher training, expand digital literacy, and create safe, modern classrooms.
Call to Action
Koung called on teachers to serve not just as instructors, but as mentors and role models for the students.
“To our educators — your leadership will shape the character of this generation,” he said. “And to our students — this school belongs to you. Make learning your mission.”
Symbol of Progress
The ceremony ended with ribbon-cutting, community celebrations, and renewed hope that the Ganta facility could become a national model for how government and partners can collaborate to transform education.
Many attendees, including local parents, traditional leaders, and students, called the project a “dream come true” for Nimba County.
As Liberia continues to battle education challenges, the Ganta school stands as proof that transformation is possible — with the right vision, partnership, and political will.
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