President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung have officially commissioned two state-of-the-art senior secondary schools in Gbarnga, Bong County, and Ganta City, Nimba County, respectively. These projects, each valued at $1.6 million, were implemented by the Ministry of Education with support from the World Bank through the Improving Results in Secondary Education (IRISE) Project.
In Gbarnga, President Boakai dedicated a newly built school designed with modern infrastructure, including furnished classrooms, solar-powered electricity, science and computer laboratories, gender-sensitive WASH facilities, and accessible learning environments. Addressing a crowd of students, educators, and local officials, the president described the institution as a “symbol of equity, progress, and national renewal,” emphasizing that human capital development remains central to his administration’s priorities.
President Boakai called on citizens to take ownership of public education facilities and protect them as critical assets for future generations. He also acknowledged the partnership of the World Bank and the leadership of the Ministry of Education for advancing the national education agenda.
Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah said the newly opened Gbarnga school would serve as a national benchmark, noting that its enrollment will be merit-based with preference for disadvantaged and rural students. She stressed that the institution aligns with Pillar Four of the government’s ARREST Agenda, which prioritizes access to quality education. Dr. Jallah also appealed to local communities and education stakeholders to safeguard the infrastructure.
Senator Prince K. Moye, who had long advocated for the establishment of such a facility in Bong County, commended the government for fulfilling what he described as a long-overdue promise. The World Bank’s Country Representative, Madam Georgia Wallen, lauded the school’s completion as a milestone achievement under the IRISE Project. She outlined the broader impact of the initiative, including improved teaching standards, nationwide textbook distribution, safer learning environments, and the introduction of female counselors since 2019.
Later that same day in Ganta, Vice President Jeremiah Koung performed a similar dedication ceremony, officially opening the new high school in Nimba County. The event was marked by enthusiastic participation from students, traditional leaders, and local officials. Nimba Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono described the school as a “legacy of dignity and promise,” noting its long-anticipated arrival in the county.
The Ganta facility includes fully furnished classrooms, science and computer laboratories, a stocked library, administrative offices, gender friendly WASH facilities, and a multipurpose hall. Vice President Koung emphasized the school’s significance in addressing long standing disparities in Liberia’s education sector. “This school signals that Liberia is ready to educate its future, fairly, equally, and excellently,” he declared.
Both the Bong and Nimba events concluded with guided tours of the campuses and cultural presentations by students, who expressed gratitude through traditional songs and performances.
The commissioning of the two modern schools represents a shared national commitment to inclusive and equitable education, as well as a significant step toward building a resilient learning ecosystem for future generations. According to the Ministry of Education, these institutions are part of a broader strategy to enhance access to quality secondary education in underserved counties.
With the support of the World Bank and other development partners, the government says it intends to replicate such efforts in other regions to ensure that no Liberian child is left behind in the pursuit of knowledge.
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