MONROIA – While successive governments and every generation of Liberians, from time immemorial, acknowledged educating of the citizenry is an indispensable factor for national development and transformation, they ironically have treated it with lip-service, rhetoric and slogans. This has resulted into acutely messy education system, poor human resources output, and development stagnation. It seems the current administration at the Ministry of Education (MoE), the agency of government having direct fiduciary responsibility for education in the country, has found the gaps, poised to leapfrog the country’s education sector with critical reforms. ThE Analyst reports.
Liberia’s Acting Minister of Education, Atty. Nyekeh Y. Forkpa, on Thursday, September 18, 2025 reassured the public of the government’s commitment to making education affordable, accessible, and equitable for all children of Liberia. He said this entails unveiling a series of policy actions ranging from payroll clean-up and teacher support to the regulation of school fees and massive infrastructure development.
Speaking at the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing yesterday, September 18, 2025,
Forkpa identify a horde of pressing issues facing the education sector as schools reopen, emphasizing that the ministry will continue to prioritize teachers, students, and communities in its reform agenda.
Getting Volunteer Teachers on Payroll
The acting Education Minister Forkpa acknowledged the contribution of volunteer teachers whom he described as “great sons and daughters of this country” stepping up to fill critical gaps in classrooms across Liberia.
“These are people who were not captured on our payroll and on the CSA processing routine, but because they realized there were needs in their communities, they stepped forward to teach our brothers and sisters,” he explained.
According to the minister, an assessment revealed that over 6,000 volunteer teachers were active in schools nationwide. To address this, the Ministry petitioned the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) and the Legislature for funding.
While the request was for 2,000 slots, only 1,000 volunteers were initially approved for payroll inclusion, he said.
In a bold move to prioritize those who are actively teaching, Forkpa disclosed that the ministry identified about 1,000 ghost or absentee teachers who were receiving government salaries but refusing to take up their assignments in counties such as Grand Gedeh, Bong, and Lofa.
He noted that the teachers were depriving Liberian children opportunity for regular learning while sitting in Monrovia, colluding with some officials.
“Because they could not provide valid reasons for abandoning classrooms, we removed them from the payroll and replaced them with volunteer teachers—the actual people doing the work,” he asserted.
In total, the ministry has now submitted 2,084 personnel action notices to the Civil Service Agency (CSA) for processing. As of Thursday morning, Forkpa confirmed that 417 volunteers had been processed to receive September salaries, with another 600 awaiting CSA Director-General approval for October payments.
To volunteer teachers, he declared: “We see you, we hear you, and we are working for you. You are critical to molding the minds of our children, and we will continue to advocate until you are fully placed on payroll.”
Salary Top-Up
In addition to addressing the plight of volunteers, Forkpa announced progress in improving salaries for government-employed teachers, stating that there is not a single teacher on the Ministry of Education payroll making below 185 U.S. dollars.
Working with the MFDP, he reported, the ministry has already implemented salary increases for over 9,000 teachers, ensuring that their compensation reflects the vital role they play in shaping Liberia’s future.
“Each day, we will continue to advocate for better salaries and working conditions because those in charge of the future of our children must be fairly compensated,” Forkpa averred.
Policing School Fees Scheme
Another major highlight by the Education Ministry official at the press briefing was the issue of school fees regulation, especially graduation fees, which have sparked nationwide complaints from parents.
Citing Chapter 9, Section 9.1(g) of the Education Reform Act of 2011, the Acting Minister clarified that the ministry has the authority to regulate fees in private, faith-based, and community schools.
“The law gives us the power to set fees and taxes for all schools. If anyone had doubts, I refer them to Section 9.1(g),” Forkpa stated firmly.
He then outlined the official fee structure for 2025: 12th Grade Graduation, LRD 5,000 (Public); USD 100 (Private), 6th & 9th Grade Graduation, LRD 3,500 (Public), LRD 6,000 (Private); Kindergarten Graduation, LRD 2,500 (Public) or LRD 5,000 (Private).
The Acting Minister warned schools against imposing “astronomical fees” outside of these regulations.
“Any school found violating these rules will face fines and, if violations persist, further actions consistent with the Education Act. We do not take pleasure in penalizing schools, but we will not compromise the interest of our children,” Forkpa said.
He urged parents and school operators to consult the official academic calendar, available both at the Ministry and online, to avoid confusion.
Expanding Infrastructure and Teacher Training
Minister Forkpa also highlighted the government’s investment in new model schools in Gbarnga, Kakata, and Ganta.
He said the schools are intended to decongest overcrowded classrooms and provide students with modern facilities.
“Recruitment for teachers and staff has been conducted transparently, with involvement from education experts, to ensure that only the very best are placed in these classrooms,” he added.
The Ministry is also rolling out the B Certificate program across all regional teacher training institutes (ZRTTI, WRTTI, and KRTTI), correcting what Forkpa called an “imbalance” that once restricted teacher training opportunities to Kakata alone.
Furthermore, 28 schools have been equipped with science laboratories, while 156 senior secondary schools now boast digital computer labs. Plans are underway to equip an additional 50 schools with modern labs before year’s end.
The Bigger Picture: Excel Program and Early Childhood Learning
Looking ahead, Forkpa announced that the Government of Liberia recently signed an $89.73 million grant and loan program under the Excel Project, aimed at strengthening early childhood and foundational learning.
“This initiative will see the construction or renovation of 100 primary schools across the country. The minister will return here soon to provide detailed updates on this transformative program,” he hinted.
Payroll Cleaning to Continue
Forkpa further reiterated the Ministry’s uncompromising stance on payroll integrity.
He warned: “If you are a teacher on the government payroll and refuse to go to your assigned school, be aware—we are on to you. The payroll clean-up will continue, and only those who are actually teaching will remain”.
He assured Liberians that despite financial and logistical challenges, the government is determined to deliver quality education.
“Great things are happening in the sector,” Forka said. “We will continue to update you, but above all, we remain committed to ensuring that education in Liberia is affordable, accessible, and equitable for all children.”