The College of West Africa (CWA), Liberia's oldest grade school, is to be refurbished with the help of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who pledged to work with the Alumni Association of the College of West Africa (CWA) to reshape the school's dilapidated facilities and create a conducive learning environment. The President, who is an alumnus of the College - Class of '55 - and a member of Association, stressed the need for a collective approach to bringing her Alma Mater to its previous condition.

An Executive Mansion issued at the weekend quoted the president as agreeing with Association members that there is no excuse for not giving back to an institution that has produced thousands of successful and prominent Liberians who should be willing to help improve the school's facilities and its academic standing.

The President renewed her personal commitment to again give back to the school. In 2008, she had personally spearheaded the fundraising for rehabilitation of the Cox Memorial Building which houses the school's Auditorium, which had been destroyed from lack of maintenance.

Madam Sirleaf's commitment came in response to an appeal by the leadership of the Alumni Association, Mr. Kwame Ross, when some of the members paid her a courtesy call on Thursday, March 7. He briefed the President on the deteriorating condition of CWA, ranging from poor facilities to a huge drop in the quality of education, and called for timely intervention if the school's image is to be restored. Unless prominent and successful members of the Association can rally around the leadership, he declared, the CWA that used to be rated high not only in Liberia but also in West Africa, would soon be ranked among the worst schools in terms of academic excellence.

It was proposed that a meeting be called, where all concerns could be raised and plans for a fundraiser discussed. The monies raised from such an event would be used to address some of the issues outlined.

President Sirleaf also promised to make a personal intervention to repair the roof of the Auditorium ahead of the rainy season, which, if not done, according to the Association, would hamper activities for subsequent academic years.