In a bold commitment to reform Liberia’s struggling education sector, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has announced plans to construct 100 modern elementary schools across the country. The announcement was made during the 4th commencement ceremony of Bong County Technical College, where Boakai declared education a “cornerstone” of his administration’s development agenda.
“These will be standard schools where schoolchildren will have everything,” Boakai emphasized. “For those still living with the old mentality that our people don’t deserve the best—you must find your way out.”
A Promise Amid Widespread School Decay
The president’s pledge comes at a critical time for Liberia’s education system, which continues to suffer from years of underfunding and neglect. A recent field investigation by The Liberian Investigator found that at least a dozen public schools in Bong County alone are in disrepair—with crumbling infrastructure, leaking roofs, broken furniture, and classrooms that become uninhabitable during the rainy season.
In rural districts like Salala, students still study in mud-walled classrooms, and some must sit on the floor for lack of furniture. “Teaching here is a fight for survival, not education,” one teacher told the Investigator.
Missing: A Plan for Inclusive Education
While Boakai’s announcement has sparked optimism among many, it has also drawn criticism for what it omits. Advocates for inclusive education say the president failed to address whether the new schools would accommodate students living with disabilities.
Currently, not a single public school in Bong County is equipped for children who are deaf, blind, or physically disabled. Disability rights activists warn that without deliberate inclusion, the new schools risk replicating existing inequalities.
“This isn’t just an oversight—it’s exclusion by design,” said one Gbarnga-based advocate. “Every child deserves to learn in a safe and supportive environment.”
Stakeholders Call for a Balanced Approach
Educators and community leaders also caution that building new schools must not come at the expense of repairing existing ones. In Panta District, one school principal noted:
“You don’t solve the education crisis by abandoning the old to chase the new. We need a balanced strategy that prioritizes both construction and rehabilitation.”
So far, the administration has not released specific details about funding sources, construction timelines, or implementation plans. It remains unclear whether the initiative will rely on national resources, international aid, or private partnerships.
A Test for Boakai’s Education Agenda
President Boakai’s pledge signals an ambitious vision for Liberia’s future—but the road ahead will require transparency, accountability, and a comprehensive strategy to deliver on the promise.
As students across the country continue to face daily barriers to basic education, many hope this pledge will not remain a political talking point but become a true turning point.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.
