Joins GoL’s ‘Back to My Classroom’ Campaign
By: H Matthew Turry
As part of its commitment to ensuring quality education for every child, UNICEF-Liberia over the weekend provided both technical assistance and essential educational supplies to the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Education.
The supplies, which are intended to support the “Back to My Classroom” campaign objectives include school bags, notebooks, and other essential materials that are crucial for a child’s academic success.
The “Back to My Classroom” campaign seeks to increase school enrollment by identifying and addressing the root causes of low attendance, such as poverty, cultural barriers, and lack of access to educational resources.
UNICEF’s technical support includes assisting the government in developing comprehensive strategies to reach out-of-school children, improve school infrastructure, and enhance teacher training.
A press release quotes UNICEF Country Representative Andy Brooks as saying that the first shipment of 5,000 back-to-school bags from UNICEF is aimed at supporting Liberia’s efforts to boost school enrolment by providing students with essential education supplies, and more shipments are expected in the coming weeks.
Presenting the donation, Brooks said the campaign was taking a multi-faceted approach to address low enrolment rates, including data-driven targeting in identifying the exact number, location, and demographics of out-of-school children to ensure targeted interventions.
The UNICEF Country boss called for collaborative efforts with traditional leaders and other stakeholders to address social and cultural barriers that may prevent children from attending school.
For school improvement, And Brooks said, the Ministry of Education should work with educational institutions to create child-friendly environments and foster a welcoming atmosphere for students.
Giving the impact on Out-of-School Children, the UNNICEF envoy said the campaign is to significantly reduce the number of children who are not attending school, providing them with the opportunity to access quality education and improve their future prospects.
He said UNICEF is working closely with the government and other partners to implement the campaign’s strategies and ensure its success
“We are committed to working with the Government of Liberia and partners to ensure that every child, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to receive a quality education,” said Andy Brooks, UNICEF Representative in Liberia.
He added by saying, “The ‘Back to My Classroom’ campaign is a vital step towards achieving this goal and we are proud to be a partner in this important initiative.
“UNICEF’s support for the “Back to My Classroom” campaign is part of its broader efforts to promote education for all children in Liberia. By providing technical assistance and essential resources, UNICEF is helping to create a more inclusive and equitable education system that benefits every child in the country”, he said
“UNICEF is proud to support the Government of Liberia’s “Back to My Classroom” campaign, a critical initiative aimed at addressing the alarmingly high rate of out-of-school children in the country as part of its commitment to ensuring quality education for every child”, he concluded.
For his part in receiving the donation, the Deputy Education Minister for Administration Nyekeh Y. Forkpa expressed gratitude for the partnership, stating, “These supplies are crucial in helping us get children back to school and ensure they stay.
The ‘Back to My Classroom’ campaign is a government-led initiative, and we’re proud to have UNICEF as a committed partner. Together, we’re working to create a future where every child in Liberia has the opportunity to reach their full potential,” said Nyekeh Y. Forkpa,
He added by saying, “In addition to technical assistance, UNICEF is also providing school supplies to newly enrolled children to help alleviate the financial burden on families and encourage continued attendance.