AML High Tops Nimba -ArcelorMittal school records perfect WASSCE pass

MONROVIA – Forty-one students graduated from ArcelorMittal High School in Yekepa after a perfect WASSCE pass rate. The school now tops every school in Nimba County. The result lands while Monrovia’s public school students march for absent teachers. The contrast is instructive. Principal Juwle Kumeh credits degree-holding teachers, the national curriculum and full company backing. Resources, in other words, work when they actually arrive in classrooms. The story also answers unnamed questions about teacher availability at the school. It does not say who raised them. Nor does it give any staffing numbers. ArcelorMittal Liberia promises full renovation of its schools next budget year. THE ANALYST reports.

YEKEPA, Nimba County – The investment of ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) in education reflects its broader social commitment to employees, their families and the communities in which it operates. That commitment is evident at ArcelorMittal High School in Yekepa, where students recorded a 100 percent pass rate in this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), placing the school at the top of all schools in Nimba County.

The achievement highlights the role of qualified teachers, academic discipline and sustained institutional support in delivering quality education and creating opportunities for the next generation.

The performance has drawn praise from Nimba County education authorities, who have described the achievement as a memorable legacy for the school and commended AML, the school administration, teachers and parents for their contributions to the students’ success.

The results also offer an important perspective on questions surrounding teacher availability and the quality of education at the school. The institution’s academic performance, together with the principal’s account of teacher qualifications and teaching resources, provides a basis for a more comprehensive assessment of its educational standards.

Degree-Holding Teachers, Full Support

Juwle Kumeh, principal of ArcelorMittal High School, said all teachers assigned to Grades 10, 11 and 12 hold bachelor’s degrees in the subjects they teach, in keeping with the Ministry of Education’s standards.

“All the teachers assigned to teach Grades 10, 11 and 12 at ArcelorMittal High School are bachelor’s degree holders,” Kumeh said in a recent interview in Yekepa.

He explained that the school follows the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) syllabi, which are aligned with Liberia’s national curriculum, and uses the required textbooks and past examination questions to prepare students for their final examinations.

Kumeh credited AML with providing the resources and manpower needed to support the school’s teaching and examination preparation.

“We utilize all these resources with the full support of the company, ArcelorMittal Liberia Mining Company, which provides us with resources, manpower and everything we need to prepare our children for the terminal examination,” he said.

The principal also emphasized the school’s commitment to academic integrity, saying students must earn their results through their own performance, without favoritism or improper influence.

“At ArcelorMittal High School, there is something we strictly adhere to: Every student must pass on their own merit,” he said, adding that the school maintains zero tolerance for teachers who demand money to pass students.

The school’s recent examination performance was celebrated on October 16, 2026, when 41 students graduated during its 19th graduation ceremony in Yekepa.

Nimba Education Officer Hails Legacy

Francis Leagay, Nimba County Education Officer, described the results as a “memorable legacy,” crediting the students’ discipline and dedication to their studies. He said the achievement brought pride not only to AML but also to Nimba County, noting that the company’s contribution to the county’s development could not be separated from the community’s progress.

Leagay also commended AML management and the school administration, saying the students’ success would not have been possible without their commitment to teaching. He recognized parents and guardians for providing the moral and financial support necessary for their children to succeed.

Charlesetta Peters, AML’s Head of Department for Social Services, which oversees schools, hospitals and social events, also recognized the role of teachers in shaping students’ academic performance and personal development.

She said the achievement reflected the combined efforts of teachers, students, parents and the company, with teachers playing a central role in preparing students for success. Peters further disclosed that AML-operated schools are expected to undergo full renovation and furnishing in the coming budget year, a commitment aimed at improving the learning environment and supporting the delivery of quality education.

Measuring Quality Beyond Staffing

The school’s results underscore the importance of assessing educational institutions through a combination of staffing, teacher qualifications, learning resources, classroom conditions and measurable academic outcomes.

While staffing levels remain an important consideration in evaluating any school, the qualifications of teachers, the resources available to them and the performance of students are equally relevant to understanding the quality of education being delivered.

For ArcelorMittal High School, a 100 percent WASSCE pass rate, the principal’s account of teacher qualifications and curriculum implementation, and the recognition from Nimba County’s senior education officials provide important evidence of the school’s academic performance.

Kumeh said the success achieved by students at ArcelorMittal High School should serve as an example for other schools across Liberia.

“The students we teach are not unintelligent. If students at ArcelorMittal High School can achieve excellent results and earn credits in various subjects, I believe students across the country can do the same,” he said.