By Emmanuel wise Jipoh
Liberia’s Vice President Madam Jewel Howard-Taylor has proposed at least a 20% increase in education funding for the 2023 fiscal budget year.
Vice President Howard-Taylor made the call-in solidarity with the post-Transformation Education Summit, National Conference on Education taking place from December 13-14, 2022 at the Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf- Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.
VP Howard-Taylor said if the government allocates 20% of the annual budget to the education sector, this will significantly boost the nation’s education system.
The Vice President said she has noticed that there has been a decrease in the Budget for Education in the Fiscal Year 2023.
She said this is far below the previous year, suggesting that it needs to improve if the government prioritizes education.
She pinpointed low budget allocation as a major challenge, emphasizing that there is more that needs to be done.
Vice President Howard-Taylor said if Liberia must grow and be developed, the government must ensure that every child has an opportunity to learn and have access to quality education.
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She explained that many years ago, President Williams R. Tolbert proffered a bill that called for 25% in the budget allocation for education.
Today, she said, the annual budget for education is less than 15%, something she said is a call to action.
She lamented a decline in girls’ education, calling for a collective effort with everyone involved.
She urged stakeholders to begin educating the citizens about the importance of information dissemination regarding education if only Liberia wants an improved and quality education.
“… [This] government must make sure the education program must address the gaps that education is faced with,” VP Taylor stressed.
For his part, Education Minister Prof. D. Ansu Sonii emphasized the challenges of Education.
He said they hinder the growth and development of many countries, including Liberia.
Prof. Sonii said the transformation of the education system requires 1 billion dollars, estimated between now to 2030.
He urged stakeholders to make sacrifices without any other alternative to build the minds of the citizens.
In a related development, Prof. Sonii also disclosed that the Ministry of Education with a grant from UNICEF has constructed a radio station to cover Liberia with learning activities.
According to him, the radio station will be dedicated in February, comprising over 9,000 lessons to be rolled out.
He said about 2,500 of them have already been recorded and edited and later, there will be a technical teaching program to benefit students via the radio in all subjects from 1st to 12th grades.
Also Speaking, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education and Public Administration, Bong County Senator Prince Moye, on behalf of the Joint- Education- Committee at the Legislature, reaffirmed support for transforming and improving Education in the Country.
