The Superintendent of the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS), Mr. Isaac Saye-Lakpoh Zawolo has urged the Liberia National Students Union (LINSU) to rise to the occasion and address challenges confronting students.
Serving as keynote speaker at the opening of LINSU Summit and International Students Day-2022, Mr. Zawolo said with a well-coordinated effort with young people and their organization in the driver's seat, the battle can be won.
The program was held in Monrovia Thursday, 17 November 2022 under the theme "Education - A Right & Precursor to Equity, Peace, Democracy, and National Development."
The MCSS chief executive encouraged the union to continue to function as a barometer of societal commitment to genuine participatory democracy.
He noted that students should keep the flame of justice, fair play, and equal rights ablaze.
Over the weekend, LINSU officially launched the inaugural edition of the National Youth & Students Summit (NYSS).
It is a signature project of the National Students movement to contribute to the development of the human capital of the young people and students of the Republic in diverse professional disciplines, arts and culture, entrepreneurship, and civic education, among others.
Of an estimated 2.5 million students across Liberia, the Union said the initiative is an effort to mitigate some of the many challenges within the Liberian society.
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Among the challenges, it cited the ill development of human capital, youth vulnerability, sexual gender-based violence, youthful unemployment, poor infrastructure, poor healthcare, political inclusion, and many others.
In its pilot phase, the first edition of the NYSS will gather over 300 young people and students from across the fifteen political subdivisions of the country.
The MCSS Superintendent noted that the interrelatedness and connectedness of equity, peace, and democracy to national development are incontestable.
Launching the Summit officially, Deputy Education Minister for Administration Amb. Latim Dathong revealed that more young people are now in school than at any time in the country's history.
He acknowledged the cardinal advocacy role played by the students' movement and said this young generation has a greater responsibility than any generation before it.
"You have to take your national responsibility to the country as a priority. The decision we make today will determine where the country goes.
The key to the future of the country is in the hand of the young people," Mr. Dathong said.
