The keynote speaker at the United Liberia Inland Church Academy’s second graduation convocation has called for collective actions to restore academic discipline as Liberia’s current education system is compromised.
According to Samson Wonnah, rampant bribery and cheating in schools, often encouraged by school administrators, are critical problems undermining the country’s educational system.
Mr. Wonnah told the elementary graduates on Sunday, July 14, 2024, that these are significant issues plaguing the education sector.
The former Nimba District #5 representative candidate, who currently serves as the Communication and Community Engagement Specialist for the Liberia Urban Resilience Project, said “Education has been seriously compromised in Liberia, because bribery and cheating during exams are common, often encouraged by school administrators. This culture is very worrying for our society.”
He said these practices are producing poorly prepared graduates, many of whom struggle with basic tasks like giving a graduation speech while college graduates lack the skills necessary for the job market.
Wonnah called on all Liberians to see this issue as a something needing serious concern. He said the future of any country depends on the quality of its workforce, and to have qualified professionals such as doctors, nurses, economists, lawyers, journalists, and teachers, the education system must be robust and effective.
He craves for collective action to restore academic discipline in Liberian schools, urging teachers to promote hard work and honesty and parents to actively monitor their children’s progress, while government implements policies that support education and reward merit.
“Teachers play a very critical role in nation-building. They must strive to develop competence in students as well as impart values such as hard work, honesty and responsibility,” Wonnah said.
Directly addressing parents, he said they have an important role in helping schools to improve the educational outcomes of their children; hence they need to follow up on their children’s progress and provide the necessary support.
Wonnah then highlighted the government’s role in ensuring educational reform by introducing and implementing policies that promote excellence and discourage fraud.
“Better salaries and incentives for teachers, coupled with a merit system in public service, can encourage hard work and integrity,” he told the gathering.
Wonnah congratulated the students on their hard work and encouraged them to continue studying, but reminded them that they are just at the beginning of a long journey, and the only secret to being a good student is to study hard and read widely. Courtesy By Sylvester Choloplay
