Delivering the keynote address, Cummings challenged the Class of 2025 to see their diplomas not as an end, but as the beginning of a journey.
Monrovia – The political leader of the Alternative National Congress Alexander B. Cummings has called on young Liberians to embrace lifelong learning, innovation, and leadership as they step into the future, while stressing the urgent need for sustained national investment in education.
Delivering the keynote address at the graduation of the Alexander B. Cummings Model Science and Technology School (ABCMSTS) in Monrovia on Friday, Cummings challenged the Class of 2025 to see their diplomas not as an end, but as the beginning of a journey.
“The diploma you receive today is not a ticket to stop learning. It is your passport to learn more,” Cummings told the graduates. “The jobs of tomorrow will require skills that don’t even exist today. Be lifelong learners. Be curious. Never stop asking questions.”
The ceremony brought together students, faculty, parents, and dignitaries. Cummings praised parents and guardians for their sacrifices, describing them as “the silent engines” behind the graduates’ success.
Four Priorities for Liberia’s Education
Cummings used the occasion to outline four national priorities he believes are essential to transforming Liberia’s education system.
He called for investing in teachers to ensure they are well-trained, motivated, and fairly compensated; building a dual-track system – balancing academic education with vocational and technical training to produce both professionals and skilled tradespeople, expanding adult education – tackling functional illiteracy among older generations and enforcing quality standards – guaranteeing that diplomas from any county hold equal value through strong accountability systems.
Clarifies Role in ABCMSTS
Cummings also addressed misconceptions about his family’s role in the school that bears his name.
“Although this school carries my name, my family and I do not own it. We do not benefit financially from ABCMSTS – not a single cent,” he emphasized. “Our investment is in the future of Liberia. It is in you, the students.”
He urged the graduates to see themselves as “architects of a new Liberia,” calling on them to build, innovate, and lead with courage.
The ABCMSTS, established with significant financial support from the Cummings family through the Cummings Africa Foundation, focuses on STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) as a driver of national development.
The school, located in Paynesville, is one of the best STEM schools in Liberia.
“You are the pride of your families, the pride of this institution, and a shining hope for the future of Liberia,” Cummings said in closing. “Go and build the country you deserve.”
