The Ministry of Education has ordered the temporary closure of House of Prayer Institute, pending full compliance with all legal, administrative, and safeguarding requirements. Safeguard The closure order follows regulatory and child protection concerns from an investigation into a widely circulated video involving House of Prayer Institute, located in Agape Community, Brewerville Educational District.
A statement issued by MoE said the investigation reveals multiple and serious violations of the Education Reform Act and regulations of the Ministry. “Findings established that the institution has been operating without a valid Ministry of Education Operational Permit since its establishment in 2019, including its reopening in 2025. The school was not registered in the official district database, and the District Education Office had no prior knowledge of its existence,” the statement disclosed.
Additionally, the investigation found that the school’s administrators do not meet the minimum professional qualification requirements prescribed by the Ministry of Education. The Liberian government added that the school’s facility was assessed and determined to be not conducive for the levels being offered, stressing that the school lacks basic regulatory documentation, including evidence of child safeguarding and protection mechanisms. “These systemic compliance failures were compounded by the school’s decision to hire an entertainer whose performance, captured in the circulated video, was inappropriate for children and inconsistent with acceptable standards for school-based activities,” MoE stated.
.In light of these findings, the Ministry of Education has ordered the temporary closure of the institute pending full compliance with all legal, administrative, and safeguarding requirements necessary to qualify for a School Operational Permit. The proprietor will be subject to fines in accordance with Ministry regulations for the period of illegal operation, a statement said.
The Ministry said it is also reviewing the matter for referral to the Ministry of Gender, Children & Social Protection, in line with national child protection frameworks. The Ministry said it will engage parents and guardians of affected learners to outline clear next steps and ensure that appropriate arrangements are made for their continued access to safe and accredited learning environments.
The Ministry of Education reaffirms its commitment to protecting the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of all learners and to enforcing regulatory standards across both public and private educational institutions, adding “Schools operating outside the law will be held accountable, and parents are encouraged to verify the accreditation status of institutions before enrolling their children.
