MONROVIA – As tensions continue to mount at the state-run University of Liberia (UL) over delayed salary payments for faculty and administrators, Eddie D. Jarwolo, Executive Director of NAYMOTE-Liberia, is calling on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to intervene by establishing a sustainable funding program for the university.
In an opinion posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Jarwolo argued that the government’s current model of support to the university is unsustainable and in need of major reforms. He called on President Boakai to lead an “Educational Fund Drive Program” that would mobilize resources for both the institution and its students.
“The University of Liberia was founded in 1862 as Liberia College and became a full university in 1951. It is a public institution funded mainly by the Government of Liberia. Mr. President, it is time to revisit the free tuition policy and introduce a Students Loans Policy which will provide students access to zero interest loans to enable them to contribute to their own education, set up an Educational Fund Drive Program to help generate funding for the students’ loans and where possible establish an educational endowment policy to contribute to a sustainable education program at the University of Liberia,” Jarwolo wrote.
He stressed that the UL should also invest in short-term professional development programs as a means of generating revenue, rather than depending entirely on government subsidies. According to him, while education must remain accessible, it should not be entirely free at the expense of quality.
Jarwolo further proposed structural reforms to improve efficiency, including decentralizing the UL system to ensure that all public universities and colleges operate under one unified system of registration, entrance, and testing. He also recommended transforming the UL into a cashless institution where payments are conducted through secure online banking systems, backed by regular auditing to enhance transparency and accountability.
“These will help reduce the huge financial situations constantly experienced by the University of Liberia,” he said, while also recommending staff rotation policies and improved standards of living for faculty and staff to strengthen morale and productivity.
Jarwolo maintained that education remains a critical pillar for Liberia’s national development and security. “Education is key to national development and security,” he declared, urging both the Executive and the Legislature to prioritize higher education reform.
The University of Liberia, one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in West Africa, has been plagued by recurring financial and administrative crises in recent years, leading to repeated strikes and disruptions of the academic calendar. With the current salary impasse, students and faculty have expressed frustration, warning that the situation could further cripple the country’s education system if not addressed urgently.
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