Transforming education in Liberia

The education sector in Liberia faces a complex set of challenges related to rebuilding and recovery from civil war, constrained national finances, poor infrastructure and the Ebola epidemic. These challenges include poor learning outcomes, overage enrollment, huge number of out-of-school children, wasted government’s resources because of ‘ghost’ teachers and unskilled teachers, and many unqualified teachers.

On a systemic level, there are no national school quality standards and capacity and resourcing at county and district levels require improvement. The education sector also faces serious equity challenges including important geographic differences in access to quality education.

In order to address these challenges, Liberia has developed a strategic response in its Getting to Best Education Sector Plan for 2017 to 2021. The plan consists of 9 programs:

  1. Establishing effective school quality improvement and accountability systems,
  2. Improving the efficiency and performance of education management system,
  3. Improving access to quality early childhood education,
  4. Providing quality alternative and accelerated education pathways for overage and out-of-school children and young people,
  5. Improving the efficiency, effectiveness and satisfaction of the teaching workforce,
  6. Ensuring that teachers have access to quality instructional materials and assessment tasks,
  7. Mainstreaming gender and school health across the education sector,
  8. Improving the quality and relevance of technical and vocational education and training,
  9. Leveraging regional and international partnerships and expertise, targeting market demand for critical skills and increasing the efficiency of education expenditure.

Result story

Elizabeth Toe's KG-2 class at Billy Town. Credit: GPE / Kelley Lynch

Liberia: A safe school environment welcomes children back to school

With support from GPE and UNICEF, the government of Liberia is making good progress in promoting safe learning and ensuring children can stay healthy while in school.

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Grants

(data as of August 31, 2023)

  • Type: System capacity

    Years: 2023

    Allocation: US$166,640

    Utilization: US$98,430

    Grant agent: WB

  • Type: Program implementation

    Years: 2021 - 2024

    Allocation: US$5,900,000

    Utilization: US$4,091,755

    Grant agent: WB

  • Type: Program development

    Years: 2020

    Allocation: US$173,725

    Utilization: US$173,551

    Grant agent: WB

  • Type: COVID-19

    Years: 2020 - 2022

    Allocation: US$7,000,000

    Utilization: US$3,025,808

    Grant agent: UNICEF

  • Type: Sector Plan Development

    Years: 2020 - 2022

    Allocation: US$700,000

    Utilization: US$700,000

    Grant agent: UNESCO

  • Type: Program implementation

    Years: 2018 - 2023

    Allocation: US$11,456,000

    Utilization: US$11,036,245

    Grant agent: WB

  • Type: Sector Plan Development

    Years: 2016 - 2017

    Allocation: US$499,202

    Utilization: US$499,202

    Grant agent: WB

  • Type: Program development

    Years: 2016 - 2017

    Allocation: US$200,000

    Utilization: US$199,690

    Grant agent: WB

  • Type: Program implementation

    Years: 2010 - 2016

    Allocation: US$40,000,000

    Utilization: US$40,000,000

    Grant agent: WB

Advocacy

As part of its investment in civil society advocacy and social accountability efforts, GPE’s Education Out Loud fund is supporting Helping Our People Excel HOPE for the 2021-2023 period.

Education Out Loud also supported the National Education Coalition of Liberia (NECOL) for the 2020-2021 period. This was built on previous support from the Civil Society Education Fund (CSEF).

Learn more

Knowledge and innovation

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