The Camp Whisnant Barracks School of Excellence in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County has achieved remarkable success within just a year of its establishment.
Founded in June 2023, the school celebrated its first graduates of K-2 and 6th grade on June 30, 2024, marking a significant milestone for the institution and the Ministry of National Defense.
The school’s rapid progress has garnered the attention of the Grand Gedeh County Ministry of Education chapter, which has led to the assigning of a professional teacher by the Ministry to support the school’s administration.
This collaboration highlights the growing recognition of the school’s importance in the community.
In a briefing with the Assistant Defense Minister for Operations, 1st Lieutenant Koiyon Jallah, the visionary behind the school, shared his motivation for creating the institution.
His inspiration stemmed from the need to provide quality education to the children of low-income military personnel stationed at the Barracks, as well as those from surrounding communities.
Lt. Koiyon expressed deep gratitude to the military personnel at Camp Whisnant for their unwavering support in realizing his dream.
He also commended the local Ministry of Education authorities for their cooperation, which has been instrumental in the school’s development.
The Assistant Defense Minister for Operations’ visit to Camp Whistnant Military Barracks was a lead-way of achieving the Defense Minister’s vision for the MoD/AFL.
The Minister of National Defense, Brig. Gen. Geraldine J. George (Rtd), the first mother/female ever to serve at the highest seat of the ministry, is intentional about establishing a school system to be operated by the Ministry of Defense in collaboration with the Armed forces of Liberia to the benefit of personnel dependents and children in the military neighborhood.
The joint visitation is one of the activities leading to the establishment of the Ministry of National Defense and the Armed Forces of Liberia School System.
The Deputy Defense Minister for Operations, Spencer Leeco who is the Chairman of the schools Board, has endeavor to facilitate this establishment.
The Operations and Policy teams led by the Assistant Minister for Operations were mandated to act swiftly on decided activities/actions required to achieve this goal.
The visit was intended to assess the existing schools, their mode of administration/operations, leadership, and utilize such information to develop a holistic school system policy that will serve as a guide for governance, support, and ensure the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of all MoD/AFL school programs.
The team visited schools in four counties including Montserrado, Margibi, Bong, and Grand Gedeh.
Recognizing the increasing demand for education in the community, Lt. Koiyon announced plans to expand the school to include Junior High classes for the 2024/2025 academic year.
He also extended his appreciation to Assistant Defense Minister for Operations, Allen Charleson, for his recent visit, which Lt. Koiyon described as a significant and encouraging gesture since the school’s inception.
He called upon the Ministry of Education and the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) High Command to provide the necessary support to ensure the school’s continued growth and its mission is to provide education for all, especially the dependents of AFL personnel.
During his visit, Charleson emphasized that his presence was in line with the Ministry of National Defense’s plan to unify all schools located at military installations under the MoD/AFL School System.
He reiterated that President Joseph Boakai, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia, is committed to addressing the needs of military personnel and their families.
However, Charleson reiterated the Senior Management Team of MoD/AFL desire to solicit support from the GoL and Partners for the construction and operations of schools across all military installations in Liberia.
The Camp Whisnant Barracks School of Excellence stands as a beacon of hope and progress for the military community and the surrounding areas.
Its swift achievements reflect the collective effort of dedicated individuals and the community’s commitment to education and as the school prepares to expand, it continues to pave the way for a brighter future for its students and the broader community.
