The Liberia Education for All Technical Committee (LETCOM) and its partners in collaboration with the Africa Network Campaign on Education (ANCEFA), over the weekend launched a Civil Society Education Funds in Monrovia.

The program was launched following a 2-day workshop aimed at creating awareness for the implementation of the program and to brainstorm for the improvement of education in the country. The two days workshop brought together several members from civil society.

Speaking during the launch of the program, Madam Kadiatu Kamara, Chairperson of LETCOM lauded LETCOM's mother organization ANCEFA based in Dakar, Senegal. The organization was represented by its Program Officer, Madam Margaret Odotei who was the special guest of LETCOM and the Coalition of Civil Society in Liberia during the launch.

Madam Kamara also reminded her colleagues that the launch of the program marks the beginning of the work to be done by the coalition. She also disclosed that the membership of LETCOM is opened to all who would want to become member.

Mr. J. J. Larblah, National Coordinator of LETCOM making remarks during the workshop, said the workshop was intended to create awareness to the civil society groupings in Liberia.

He said Liberia was one of the first among 20 countries to receive a grant in the amount of US$111,000 which he said is intended to empower the civil society to be more functional in the area of monitoring education activities in the country.

The LETCOM Coordinator said the coalition of civil society group is expected to begin working with the amount for one calendar year to tackle number of programs in about eight counties in the country.

LETCOM is an organization which commenced operation following the Dakar conference of world leaders that discussed the plight of children. The conference was necessary to monitor education in the country of each member, making education fundamental human rights and to make sure that member countries meet a set target for education. The Dakar protocol also enshrined that Children in member countries by 2015 should be able to complete at least primary education.

LETCOM and its collaborating partners, the coalition of civil society organization has been working over the years advocating for the increment of government budget for education to 25%. The organization also held series of workshops brainstorming to make education a priority.