By Desmond Gbeleh Wion
Senior Reporter
Monrovia, Liberia – In a significant step toward improving the education sector, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced plans to transition 2,000 volunteer teachers onto the government payroll, constituting 56% of the total volunteer workforce, while 9,271 MOE teaching staff members will receive salary increments. This move hailed as a victory for educators nationwide, follows years of advocacy for better working conditions and financial support for volunteer teachers.
The transition is part of the government’s broader effort to enhance the quality of education by ensuring that teachers receive fair compensation for their contributions to shaping young minds. During the regular Tuesday press briefing at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT) in Monrovia, Education Minister Jarso Marley Jallah expressed optimism about the development, stating that it marks a new era in Liberia’s education system as a large number of volunteer teachers are being added to the payroll.
“This is a significant milestone in our efforts to professionalize teaching and improve learning outcomes. These teachers have dedicated their time and skills to educating our children despite financial hardships. Placing them on the payroll is not just a reward for their sacrifice but a necessary step to strengthen our education system,” Dr. Jallah said.
The enrollment plan was influenced by Minister Jallah’s nationwide tour and a volunteer teachers’ profiling exercise conducted to assess the sector’s challenges. The exercise revealed that Liberia has 6,119 volunteer teachers, of whom 1,520 lacked teaching credentials, reducing the number of credentialed volunteers to 4,599. A subsequent internal credential audit found that only 3,557 teachers had active credentials, leaving 1,042 with inactive status.
As part of the transition process, MOE will conduct critical evaluations across all educational districts to verify individual credentials, subject expertise, and teaching performance. The final stage will involve interviews, submission of credentials to the Civil Service Agency (CSA), and signing of training contracts. Volunteer teachers who meet all requirements will officially be employed by the government by April 30, 2025, and will begin receiving salaries through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
For years, thousands of volunteer teachers across Liberia have worked without salaries, relying on small stipends from parents or community contributions. Many faced severe financial hardships, making it difficult to continue their work. The new payroll inclusion will provide financial stability, ensuring better retention and motivation among teachers.
While announcing the transition of volunteer teachers, Dr. Jallah also disclosed that 9,271 MOE teaching staff members have received salary increments, in line with the Civil Service Agency (CSA) salary structure. This adjustment aims to provide a more satisfactory working environment for all professionals within the Ministry of Education.
Out of 13,001 teaching staff on the MOE payroll, 9,271 were deemed eligible for salary increases based on legitimate credentials. The revised salary structure is as follows: “C” Certificate – US$180, “B” Certificate – US$210, Bachelor’s Degree – US$400, Master’s Degree – US$500, and Associate Degree – US$400.
Minister Jallah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing challenges within the education sector while applauding the progress made so far. The MOE has assured the public that efforts are ongoing to resolve pending concerns and that more volunteer teachers will be added to the payroll in subsequent phases.
In a related development, high school students from the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS) recently staged protests, citing the non-payment of their instructors, which led to teachers abandoning classrooms. However, Minister Jallah believes the protests were politically motivated, orchestrated by individuals seeking to destabilize the country rather than genuinely addressing the issue of unpaid instructors.
Categorically condemning the protests, Dr. Jallah warned politicians against exploiting students for political gain. “Politicians must stop abusing the rights of Liberian students by encouraging them to engage in unnecessary and unacceptable actions,” she stated.
She further argued that unpaid salaries should not justify teachers abandoning classrooms, given that the MCSS budget allocates US$4 million, with US$3 million specifically earmarked for salary costs. “It is unbelievable that MCSS instructors remain unpaid when over 85% of the institution’s budget is designated for salaries,” she noted.
Despite her skepticism over the claims of unpaid salaries, Minister Jallah assured that she would work with the MCSS team to resolve the matter and ensure that affected instructors receive their rightful compensation. This latest development underscores the Ministry of Education’s commitment to strengthening Liberia’s education system, improving teacher welfare, and addressing outstanding issues affecting the sector.
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