The Ministry of Education in consultation with relevant Health authorities and Education stakeholders has made some slight adjustments in the Academic 2020/2021 calendar.
The adjustments are in response to the challenges the country now faces in these difficult times in the educational sojourn.
In an effort to curtail and combat the spread posed by the new wave of the deadly coronavirus in the country, the slight adjustment made in the Academic 2020/2021 calendar are categorized which include Early Childhood Education that is Nursery, ABC, K-1, and K-2.
According to the Ministry, the classes whose curricula have already been exhausted will do their assessment exams and close on or before July 10, 2021.
As of Category 2 which is Basic Education; this includes Grades 1- 9 and students who fall in this category have already completed the 4th marking period while the 5th and 6th periods should be condensed with the key and critical contents that are appropriate and necessary for the absorption for Fair assessment and achievement.
Meanwhile, during the course of this period, the following exams to be administered will be Grade 3 assessment test from July 12, 2021; Liberia Primary School Certificate Examination (LPSCE) for Grade 6 form July 13 & 14, 2021 and the Liberia Junior High School Certificate Examination (LJHSCE) for Grade 9 from July 15 & 16,2021.
All lower and upper basic ( Grades 1- 9) school final exams will be administered from Wednesday August 4 to Tuesday August 10,2021 while the Senior Secondary School ( 10th & 11th Grades) final exams will be administered commencing Monday September 27 to Thursday September 30,2021 and Senior Secondary School (12th Grade) final examination must be administered beginning Wednesday September 1 to Tuesday September 7, 2021.
The adjustiment intials that all Senior Secondary Schools ( Grades 10-12) are to remain in school until September 30,2021 while the decision on the reopening of school will be made depending on the prevailing situation and advice from the Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL).
The Ministry wishes to inform all school administrators, proprietors/ proprietresses, Principals Association, National Teachers Association of Liberia (NTAL), Private School Secretariats and all Education stakeholders as well as the public that the change in the 2020/2021 Academic Calendar is intended to help government combat and curtail the further spread of the deadly Corona virus which poses serious threat to our Health and National Security.
The Ministry therefore urged school authorities to be in full compliance to the new schedule and absorb the required lessons within the National Curriculum where necessary and appropriate for the growth and sustainability of human capacity.
The Ministry in the strongest term, also, urged all school administrators to suspend all social activities ( field trip, football games, gala day program, Parade, Queen and King Contests amongst others) as well as all Graduation exercises until further notice from the Ministry of Health and NPHIL.
The Ministry emphasized that the full compliance in the fight against COVID-19 must be taken seriously by all Liberians by observing the preventive measures prescribed by the Ministry of Health for safe and healthy environment for all.