- The National Teachers Association of Liberia (NTAL) and Education International (EI) have called on the Liberian government to significantly increase investment in public education, improve teachers' welfare, and strengthen oversight of private education providers, warning that quality education cannot be achieved without sustained public financing and support for educators.
The call was made at the close of a two-day stakeholders' validation workshop on education financing and the impact of privatization in Liberia, where participants reviewed research findings and developed recommendations aimed at strengthening the country's public education system.
The workshop brought together key stakeholders in the education sector, including representatives of government ministries, agencies and commissions, civil society organizations, private institutions and development partners.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, NTAL National President Mary W. Mulbah Nyumah thanked Education International and Free Liberia for supporting the research initiative, describing the collaboration as a demonstration of the partners' shared commitment to improving education through evidence-based dialogue and cooperation.
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"This collaboration reflects our shared commitment in improving education in Liberia through evidence, dialogue, and partnership," she said.
Nyumah acknowledged education as one of the most important national investments but said Liberia's education sector continues to struggle with inadequate funding, shortages of teaching and learning materials, poor infrastructure and insufficient support for teachers and students.
"As the organization representing teachers across the country, NTAL believes that every child deserves access to free, equitable, and quality public education. And every teacher deserves the support and resources needed to provide that education," she stated.
She encouraged participants to contribute openly during discussions to help shape policy recommendations that would strengthen public education and increase government investment in schools.
Representing Education International, Africa Regional Director Dr. Dennis Sinyolo conveyed greetings from EI President Dr. Mugwena Marulege, General Secretary Dr. David Edwards, and Africa Regional President Madam Mariama Chikao.
He reminded participants that Education International is a global federation representing 33 million teachers and education personnel in 180 countries, with NTAL serving as one of its affiliates.
Referencing international commitments, including Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, the African Union's Agenda 2063, and the Continental Education Strategy for Africa, Sinyolo noted that Liberia played a pivotal role during negotiations that shaped the global education agenda.
"It is Liberia that led the way, that led the discussions, which culminated in the adoption of that framework by the United Nations in 2015. You must therefore lead the way in making sure that your help to develop is fully implemented," he said.
He stressed that meaningful education reforms must begin with investments in teachers.
"The quality of a country's education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers," Sinyolo said, urging the government to prioritize teacher training, continuous professional development, competitive salaries and improved working conditions.
Sinyolo also cautioned against the increasing commercialization of education, arguing that private education often excludes children from low-income families.
"As Education International, together with our friends at NTAL, we say no to the privatization, commercialization, marketization, and commodification of education. Education must be free and available to all," he declared.
He referenced Education International's 2023 Go Public! Fund Education Campaign, which encourages African governments to increase public spending on education, teachers, school infrastructure and teaching and learning resources.
"Parents must not send their children to a private school because there is no public school around or of good quality," he said. "Let's make all our public schools in Liberia and all over Africa available to every child and of good quality by investing in our teachers and in the quality of our school leaders."
To accelerate reforms, Sinyolo proposed what he described as the "Triple P" advocacy strategy, urging education stakeholders to persuade the government, particularly the Ministries of Education and Finance, to increase education funding; push when persuasion alone is insufficient; and pressurize to ensure policies are fully implemented.
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He also outlined the "Five Bigs" needed to transform Liberia's education system: Think Big, Plan Big, Invest Big, Act Big, and Achieve Big.
"Have an ambitious program as a nation. Have ambitious goals for your education system... Train your teachers well. Train them continuously. Pay them well. And within five, ten years' time, you will have the best education system in Africa," he said.
The workshop concluded with participants validating research findings and identifying policy recommendations aimed at improving education financing while safeguarding Liberia's public education system.
NTAL and Education International reaffirmed their commitment to working with the Government of Liberia, civil society organizations, parents, students and development partners to ensure every Liberian child has access to free, equitable and quality public education.
The organizations said sustained collaboration and increased domestic investment will be critical to building a stronger education system that provides equal opportunities for all children to achieve their full potential.
