Photo: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Leymah-Roberta-Gbowee/261358187236905?fref=ts

Liberia Nobel Laureate, Leymah Gbowee.

When she addressed a news conference recently at the head offices of the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa in Congo Town, outside Monrovia, Laureate Leymah Gbowee, criticized Liberia's Education System, terming it as "poor".

Laureate Gbowee asserted that the education system of Liberia is appalling as compared to other countries across the African Continent.

Madam Gbowee, President Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf and Tawakkol Karman of Yemen were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in the Norwegian capital, Oslo in 2011.

Madam Gbowee, who is the President of the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa, averred that Liberian students sent out of the country for studies cannot compete with their counterparts due to the poor education acquired in their own country.

She observed that the transformation of education in Liberia "remains a serious challenge to the growth and development of the Liberian society."

If the young people must take over the mantle of leadership in Liberia, she suggested that the educational sector must be transformed urgently so that they (young people) can acquire quality and sound education.

This is not the first time a prominent Liberian has criticized Liberia's education system.

It could be recalled that several months ago, President Johnson-Sirleaf heavily criticized the country's education system, describing it as a big "mess." Among other things, she called for the complete overhaul of the education system in order to meet present day reality.

Undeniably, our country's education system is appalling and needs to be completely overhauled if the country must be on par with other African countries, including Ghana.

We agree with Laureate Gbowee that the transformation of our country's unspeakable education system is crucial to the growth and development of our society.

This is why our policymakers and other relevant authorities in the education system must do everything in ensuring that our country regains its prewar education status.

On the other hand, we urge our policymakers and others to consider the persistent criticisms of the education system as a challenge for them to work harder in transforming our deteriorated education system.

Honestly, the dream of rebuilding Liberia following years of war, which devastated the entire country, would be a fantasy if our shattered education system is not transformed.

Again, we urge the policymakers and others to consider the continued criticisms of our education system as a challenge.