By Johnny Bornor Akoi
akoi952952@gmail.com
Liberia’s education system is in crisis, with low enrollment and high dropout rates severely impacting the country’s development. Only 43% of children complete primary school, and just 18% move on to secondary education, according to a 2022 World Bank analysis. The Republic of Liberia Ministry of Education’s Education Sector Plan for 2022/23–2026/27 identifies significant challenges in the education system, including a shortage of teaching materials, unqualified teachers, and inadequate infrastructure. This article will delve into the core challenges facing Liberia’s education sector while highlighting ongoing efforts and proposing solutions to foster improvement.
Despite these challenges, there have been notable efforts to improve the system from the Liberian government and various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) which have launched initiatives aimed at uplifting the educational sector and the Liberia Education Advancement Program (LEAP) is one such initiative. According to its 2024 program report LEAP supports 475 public schools across all 15 counties, reaching nearly 125,000 children, 47% of whom are girls. It has made progresses in improving teacher quality, with 87% of teachers in LEAP supported schools holding a C-certificate or higher and receiving ongoing professional training. The program has also focused on promoting gender equity by increasing female enrollment. Meanwhile, the Liberian government has also rolled out the Education Sector Plan, which aims to improve accessibility and quality of education through increased funding and teacher training.
Additionally In 2023, UNICEF Liberia, in collaboration with sector partners, continued to support the education sector to improve access to quality education. Notable progress was made, particularly in access, resulting in the Net Enrollment Rate (NER) for primary education improving from 43.4% to 46.3%, for Early Childhood Education (ECE) from 47% to 56.9%, and the Gender Index Ratio (GIR) in lower secondary education improved from 49% to 53%.
Despite these advancements, significant challenges persist. Over 50% of the teacher workforce lacks proper qualifications, with more than half of teachers untrained, as detailed in a 2022 World Bank analysis. According to UNESCO’s 2022 Education Sector Analysis for Liberia, educational quality is undermined by the lack of adequate teaching materials and failing infrastructure, especially in rural areas. Gender inequality continues to be a major barrier to progress. UNESCO’s 2022 report highlights critically low numbers of female teachers only 20% at the primary level, 12% at junior secondary, and 10% at senior secondary levels. This shortage of female role models has a direct negative impact on girls’ learning experiences. Moreover, school related gender based violence (SGBV) remains a widespread issue, in 2015 U-Report Liberia, in partnership with UNICEF and the Ministry of Education, conducted a poll that revealed a significant issue of teachers exploiting students by awarding grades in return for sex. Inadequate sanitation facilities further hinder girls’ education according to UNESCO’s 2022 findings, only 25% of schools in Liberia provide gender-specific sanitation facilities, leading to absenteeism among girls, particularly during menstruation. The situation is worsened by delayed and insufficient teacher salaries, which contribute to high turnover rates and low morale among educators, as reported by the Liberian Ministry of Education in 2020.
To tackle these challenge issues and enhance Liberia’s educational framework, several recommendations are proposed. Liberia needs to prioritize teacher training and ensure satisfactory salaries to maintain qualified educators. Investments in infrastructure and teaching materials are crucial, especially in rural areas. Recruiting and training more female teachers is essential to promote gender equity, along with measures to address gender-based violence and improve sanitation facilities. Updating the curriculum to align with global standards and job market demands is also critical to making the education system more effective.
By addressing these systemic issues, Liberia can build a stronger, more equitable education system that benefits all children and drives national progress.
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