In a landmark effort to address the rising school dropout rates in Liberia, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has launched the National Enrollment Drive Movement.This initiative, championed by the Ministry of Education in partnership with its development partners, underscores a national commitment to ensuring that every school-aged child in Liberia not only enrolls but also remains in school.
The launch was held last Friday, August 9, 2024 at Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex, and marks a critical juncture in the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to reverse the troubling trend of student dropouts, which currently stands at 20 percent.
The National Enrollment Drive Movement aims to bring this figure down to a more sustainable 15 percent, with a strategic focus on increasing enrollment and retention rates across the country.
President Boakai highlighted the crucial role of the Ministry of Education in safeguarding the future of Liberia’s youth. He called on Education Officers across the nation to rally behind this initiative, stressing the need to create suitable learning environments in classrooms and school buildings nationwide.
The President appealed to all Liberians to invest in their children’s education, ensuring they are adequately prepared for the challenges ahead. For her part, Minister of Education, Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah echoed the President’s call to action, describing the National Enrollment Drive Movement as a transformative milestone for Liberia’s education sector.
She emphasized the campaign’s primary objective of combating dropout rates and increasing school enrollment, particularly at the primary level. Dr. Jallah urged sustained efforts to secure the future of Liberia’s children by enhancing their educational opportunities.
The movement will kick off today, same being Monday, August 12, 2024, and targets several key counties including Grand Bassa, Rivercess, Rivergee, Sinoe, Gbarpolu, and Bomi, with plans for broader national implementation.
