By our Staff Writer
A National Education Summit has opened in Kakata, outside Monrovia “to build a consensus on essential priorities to fast-track reform of the education sector,” with President George Weah underscoring education as the pillar of his CDC government’s “Pro-poor” agenda.
Officially launching the three-day summit on the campus of the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) on Monday, President used personal experience as an example of how education can transform the lives of individuals and nations.
The current government has inherited an education system former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf previously described as “a mess”.
Referring to education as an engine of personal development, President Weah said: “We have to be honest to ourselves if we truly want to change and make our country a better place.”
The Liberian leader spelled out his government’s approach in working with stakeholders and experts to give Liberian children quality education.
“Our kids deserve the best and we must provide them that,” the international football icon-turned politician said.
President Weah, who after losing the 2005 Presidential election went back to school and obtained Bachelor and Master degrees in the in the United States, also recounted his own trying challenges in obtaining an education.
“There are people here who got no opportunity and are in search of it to help better their lives. We, as a government, must be in the position to help lift them out of their predicaments,” President Weah told the opening session of what the education Ministry has described as a groundbreaking education summit.
Education Minister Prof. Ansu Dao Sonii said the National Education Summit brings together a diverse group of local and international stakeholders to discuss the key priorities for education sector reform.
“We plan to revitalize the sector and make it more vibrant. In order to build on previous gains and learn from existing challenges, we have undertaken a wide range of engagements with stakeholders and a nation-wide assessment of schools. This has provided us with first-hand information about the issues affecting education in Liberia today,” Minister Sonii said.
Held under the theme, “Prioritizing Education: Why Should We Care,” the aim of the summit is conveying the collective effort needed to provide quality education for every Liberian child.
Education Minister Sonii presented the government’s priorities for the education sector from 2018-2028 and the findings from the recently-concluded Nationwide Listening tour was also presented.
The 3-day education Summit includes panel discussions on six key themes:Teacher Education & Professionalization; Monitoring, Supervision & Assessment; Learning Environment; Science, TVET & Higher Education; Stakeholder Engagement and Education Financing.
The panels include participation from representatives of the World Bank, USAID, UNICEF, the European Union, and a range of other international and Liberian partners.
During the panels, there were ample opportunity for stakeholders, education specialists, policy makers, business and community leaders, teachers as well as others with interest in seeing the Liberian education system succeed, to collaborate and shared ideas for improving the education sector.
According to an Education Ministry’s statement released ahead of the summit, it will provide opportunities for key stakeholders to review the education sector, provide independent perspectives of the status of the sector.
The meeting is also expected to develop consensus around a shared vision for the improvement of the education system in Liberia.
The administration anticipates that tangible steps can be agreed to begin to make the improvements in education that the Liberian people wish to see.
At the ongoing Kakata Summit is expected to form the basis of a refined strategy for the education sector.