Pres. Boakai Says It’s A Major National Investment To Secure A Stronger Future For Liberia’s Children
PHOTO: (L-R) Pres. Joseph Boakai and World Bank Country Manger, Georgia Wallen at the launch of the EXCEL project
By Our Staff Writer
A landmark project, Excellence in Learning in Liberia (EXCEL) aimed at transforming public primary education across Liberia worth US$88.7 million has been launched in Monrovia, with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai describing it as a major national investment to secure a stronger future for Liberia’s children, while World Bank’s Country Manager, Georgia Wallen says it is designed to tackle educational challenges head-on.
Speaking at the launch of the project on Monday, December 15, 2025 at the Monrovia City Hall, President Boakai described EXCELLas a major national investment intended to improving access to quality education and securing a stronger future for Liberia’s children.
This will be done regardless of background or location, has access to quality learning opportunities, the Liberian leader said.
“For Liberia to develop sustainably, we must get education right,” President Boakai said, warning, If we fail our children in the classroom, we risk failing the nation tomorrow. Let us make excellence the standard, not the exception, in Liberian education,” said President Boakai as he reaffirmed his Administration’s commitment to transforming the education sector.
Approved by the World Bank Board on June 10, 2025, the EXCEL financing package, includes a US$60 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) and a US$28.7 million grant from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). This initiative marks the first investment under the World Bank’s new 2025–2030 Country Partnership Framework for Liberia, which prioritizes building foundations for more and better jobs.
According to the project agreement, the EXCEL Project will support the construction of over 100 primary schools and rehabilitation classrooms across the country, train more than 6,500 teachers, and provide leadership development for over 4,500 school administrators.
It is said that in total, the project will reach 2,337 public primary schools and improve foundational literacy and numeracy for over 350,000 primary students through enhanced instructional materials and teaching methods.
President Boakai pointed out that EXCEL aligns with his Administration’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, particularly its focus on human capital development.
And the Liberian leader urged the Legislature to ensure the timely ratification of the project’s financing, warning that delays could jeopardize the initiative.
He also called on parents, educators, community leaders, and partners to take collective ownership of the project to ensure its success.
“A day of hope rooted in the vision of Liberia Rising”-World Bank says
At the launch of the EXCEL project, World Bank Liberia Country Manager, Georgia Wallen referred to the project launch as “a day of hope rooted in the vision of Liberia Rising”.
“Let’s start today with a question: above all else, is there one absolutely necessary key to lasting transformation in Liberia? There could be many answers. But the words of Nelson Mandela years ago are instructive: he said, “Education is THE most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” the head of the World Bank office said.
Madam Wallen then reminded noted:
“Liberia is in a pivotal moment. Foundational literacy and numeracy early in life are a determinant of a child’s future and ultimately of Liberia’s capacity to rise. Yet too many Liberian children struggle – not because of aptitude but because of the quality of their education. Test results indicate that today, two out of three Liberian children in grade 3 are unable to read a simple story, and four out of five struggle to demonstrate basic numeracy skills. These numbers are an urgent call to action for all of us.”
BELOW IS FULL TEXT OF THE World Bank Liberia Country Manager Georgia Wallen’s remarks at the launch of the Excellence in Learning in Liberia – EXCEL – Project
Your Excellency, President of the Republic of Liberia; Honorable Minister Jallah and Members of the Cabinet; Distinguished heads of agencies and partners; Leaders and staff of the Ministry of Education; teachers; students; parents; ladies and gentlemen:
On behalf of the World Bank, thank you for the opportunity to join today’s launch of the Excellence in Learning in Liberia – EXCEL – project. This is a day of hope rooted in the vision of Liberia Rising. Let’s start today with a question: above all else, is there one absolutely necessary key to lasting transformation in Liberia? There could be many answers. But the words of Nelson Mandela years ago are instructive: he said, “Education is THE most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Liberia is in a pivotal moment. Foundational literacy and numeracy early in life are a determinant of a child’s future and ultimately of Liberia’s capacity to rise. Yet too many Liberian children struggle – not because of aptitude but because of the quality of their education. Test results indicate that today, two out of three Liberian children in grade 3 are unable to read a simple story, and four out of five struggle to demonstrate basic numeracy skills. These numbers are an urgent call to action for all of us.
EXCEL is designed to tackle this challenge head‑on. It will bring a renewed focus on the essential skills every child needs—reading, writing, and mathematics—across early childhood education (ECE) and all six grades of primary school. EXCEL will help position Liberia’s education system to ensure that every Liberian child build the skills they need for life.
As Honorable Minister Jallah says, “EXCEL is not just a project.” EXCEL represents a nationwide shift in how learning is delivered. It’s ambition is transformational, aiming to
- help teachers use simple, effective methods that enable every child to learn;
- improve school environments;
- strengthen teacher support; and
- upgrade data and accountability systems.
Education is at the center of the ARREST Agenda. EXCEL supports the AAID by investing in access, quality, and equity, and system capacity building to deliver results. It also aligns with Liberia’s Education Sector Plan and the Partnership Compact.
For the World Bank, EXCEL will be a cornerstone of our partnership framework with the Government of Liberia. Over the next five years, the WBG program has a single, unifying outcome: building the foundations for more and better jobs. Through EXCEL, we commit to help reduce learning poverty—a critical building block for creating opportunity for Liberia’s youth.
This is the largest investment in Education in the history of WBG partnership with Liberia. In addition to $60 million of IDA financing, EXCEL is made possible because partners have rallied around this shared reform. The Global Partnership for Education’s US$28.7 million grant co‑finances the EXCEL project, and development partners—from UNICEF and the EU to bilateral agencies and NGOs—are aligning technical assistance and complementary investments to strengthen implementation. We thank the GPE and all partners for this commitment and collaboration.
We salute the Government of Liberia—the Presidency; the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning; and the Ministry of Education—for placing education at the heart of the ARREST Agenda and for advancing the policy and institutional reforms needed to deliver results. We also warmly thank the Liberian legislature for strong support of EXCEL, recognizing the nation-wide reach of this effort. Your support will continue to be important. Finally, we recognize the dedication of teachers, principals, county and district officers, school management committees, parents, and students—the people who will turn this project into learning gains across Liberia.
Together, we will help Liberia’s children learn more, stay in school, and build the skills to thrive and lead fulfilling and productive lives. We want to hear current and future generations of Liberians knowing that when they EXCEL, Liberia EXCELS! This is an investment in Liberia’s bright and prosperous future. Congratulations!