Enrollment Bulletin From BBA Owned By Ruling Unity Party Chairman Shows
By Our Staff Writer
Despite the Education Ministry’s warning against arbitrary increase in tuition and fees by private school, the Best Brains Academy (BBA) on the Robertsfield highway outside Monrovia, owned by the Chairman of the ruling Unity Party (UP), Rev. Luther Tarpeh, has hiked its tuition and fees for the 2026/2027 academic year.
Official bulletin from the BBA, a faith based secondary school, shows that it has effected an astronomical increase in its tuition and fees for the 2026/2027 due to officially kick off next month, September.
The institution was established in 2012 by UP’s Chairman, Rev./Dr. Luther Tarpeh to help prepare young people for future leadership, but the institution has since become one of the most expensive schools in the Liberian capital, depriving ordinary children from attending.
The bulletin/information brochure just issued by BBA authorities, puts the annual fees for high school students at a little more than one thousand United States dollars, at a time of harsh economic condition for struggling parents, many of whom have reportedly considering redirecting their children to other schools due to the high fees being charged.
School uniforms are being sold for $65 United States dollars, while Physical Education (PE) uniforms sell for $50 United States dollars, in addition to other fees.
Last year however, Education Minister, Dr. Jarso Jallah raised serious concern about the rising cost of private school fees and compulsory purchases of school materials on campuses in Liberia. Public Schools Overwhelmed: Are Private Schools Defying MoE Policies? | The Liberian Post
At the time, the Liberian Education Minister noted that the constant hike in tuition and fees by private schools was compelling many families to send their children to public schools, something she said was overwhelming public education facilities.
The Best Brains Academy is located in a slum community with a poor access road, lack of improved library, computer and laboratory facilities with no real extra- curricular activities.
The Proprietor of Best Brains Academy, Rev. Dr. Luther Tarpeh is a product of the Haywood Mission school in Monrovia, a faith based Christian school operated by Bishop Leo Simpson that charges far less (50 percent less) in tuition and fees compared to the Best Brains Academy.
Haywood Mission School Information Bulletin
A senior member of Best Brains is quoted as saying that for a long time they have not increased their tuition, and they have decided to do an upward adjustment since it is a private school, adding no one is forced to come to our school.
Although the Best Brains Academy is a privately-owned secondary school, it is time the Education Ministry actualize its warning against arbitrary increase by private schools by setting boundaries to prevent private institutions from exploiting parents during this challenging financial period in the country by setting minimum benchmarks for privately run schools.
It is not clear whether or not Rev. Tarpeh, who is a politician for a ruling party that publicly declaring advocacy for education for the poor, will re-consider some kind of reduction in tuition and fees before the commencement of the new school year in just a few weeks.
It should be noted that the increase in tuition and fees by a private school owned and operated by the Chairman of the ruling party comes at a time when the Boakai government, through the Education Ministry, recently abolished all registration and other fees for certain levels of grade school students in public schools to lessen the financial burden on parents this academic school year.