Monrovia – The Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced the rollout of a Geo-Mapping Monitoring and Evaluation System aimed at strengthening school supervision and enhancing educational accountability across Liberia.
The initiative aims to enhance government’s efforts to improve education delivery and learning outcomes in the wake of weak monitoring systems that have long hindered effective supervision of schools in Liberia.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Education Minister Jarso Maley Jallah disclosed that the ‘impact-driven’ modernized and digitized Geo-Mapping System for Enhanced School Monitoring is valued at approximately US$300,000.
According to the Minister, the system is designed to serve all categories of schools across the country, including public, private, faith-based, and community institutions.
Madam Jallah noted that the project is funded under the Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) and is intended to track real-time data from schools nationwide, describing the initiative as a “new dawn” for education monitoring in Liberia.
She emphasized that the new system represents a major advancement in the supervision of schools.
“With this innovative approach, we will no longer rely on fragmented information and manual reporting. Instead, we will harness real-time data to ensure adherence to national education standards and improve learning outcomes,” Minister Jallah said.
The system was developed by HAK Technology and is fully funded by the Government of Liberia through the Public Sector Investment Program.
The Minister revealed that the pilot phase of the initiative will begin in Montserrado, Rivercess, Bong, Sinoe, Bomi, and Gbarpolu Counties.
Key Features of the Geo-Mapping System
The Geo-Mapping platform will enable the collection, analysis, storage and tracking of monitoring data directly from schools.
The Minister explained that all data entered into the system will be geolocated, meaning school officials must input information directly from the school premises.
This feature is expected to enhance accuracy and accountability by preventing data from being submitted from external locations.
The monitoring system will focus on several key areas, including classroom instruction, teacher attendance, and the availability and quality of teaching materials in relation to the national curriculum.
During recent school visits, Minister Jallah disclosed that she observed several troubling conditions in some schools, including classrooms without teachers and students left unattended for long periods.
She described the situation as unacceptable and stressed the urgent need for improvement.
“We cannot allow our schools to operate ineffectively. Immediate action will be taken to ensure that teachers are present and delivering quality instruction,” she stated.
Implementation and Pilot Phase
Implementation of the Geo-Mapping system will begin with a pilot phase in Montserrado, River Cess, Bong, Sinoe, Bomi and Gbarpolu Counties.
According to the Minister, these counties were selected based on their educational reach and the potential for significant data impact, as the government aims to focus on improving learning outcomes and operational efficiency.
She explained that the initiative is not a one-time intervention but part of a broader strategy to strengthen continuous school supervision nationwide.
Minister Jallah also assured the public that the ministry’s management team has been actively conducting unannounced field visits to schools to monitor educational delivery firsthand.
Addressing Monitoring Challenges
The Minister acknowledged that past monitoring mechanisms have been inadequate, resulting in a lack of timely and reliable information about classroom activities.
However, she noted that the new Geo-Mapping system will address these challenges by providing a strong framework for real-time data collection and analysis.
The system is expected to significantly improve transparency, accountability, and decision-making within the education sector, ultimately benefiting students and communities across Liberia.
Commitment to Education Reform
In closing, Minister Jallah urged the media and the public to remain engaged with the initiative, expressing confidence that the new Geo-Mapping system will strengthen school management and improve learning outcomes nationwide.
“We are committed to ensuring that our children receive the education they deserve,” she said. “This year marks a renewed commitment to accountability, and we will not waver in our mission to enhance the quality of education in Liberia.”
Following her remarks, the Minister opened the floor to questions from members of the media, encouraging further dialogue on the implementation and sustainability of the Geo-Mapping monitoring system.
