By Grace Q. Bryant
The Ministry of Education has projected US$1.2 million from the government to conduct the 2024 Annual School Census.
This announcement was made by Deputy Education Minister for Planning, Research, and Development, Samuel Toe, during the regular press briefing held by the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT).
Deputy Minister Toe highlighted the significance of this year’s census, emphasizing its expanded scope and the role of data in shaping the country’s education policies.
“As it’s commonly said around here data is life. The information we gather from our education system enables us to plan better, make informed investments, and monitor the quality, access and equity across our educational institutions,” he stated.
According to him, the census which is set to begin on December 1-15, 2024 will be carried out in collaboration with several international partners, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), UNICEF, and the European Union.
These partnerships are part of a broader initiative to support the Ministry’s Technical Working Group on Data and Evidence, tasked with overseeing the census operations.
“This year’s census will include comprehensive data across all levels of Liberia’s education sector,” Toe explained.
He disclosed that in the past years, data collection focused primarily on formal institutions. However, this year’s census aims to provide a holistic overview, gathering information from public, private, and community schools.
Minister Toe furthered that the Ministry is implementing new technological approaches in the data collection process, marking a shift from previous methods.
He added that for the first time, the census will pilot school-based data collection, starting with schools in Montserrado County, where principals and registrars will contribute directly to data gathering.
“The Ministry will also employ digital devices that allow data collection to be synchronized in real-time, enabling immediate analysis,” he said.
“To ensure effective use of these new tools, a rigorous training program is planned. Trainers will be prepared from November 18 to 23, followed by a county-level training from November 26 to 30. These trained individuals will then support data collection teams across Liberia’s 15 counties,” he stated.
The key dates outlined for the census include: November 1-15 equipment testing and synchronization trial, November 18-23 Training of trainers, November 26-30 county-level data personnel training and December 1-15 official data collection period.
Following the census, data cleaning and analysis will occur immediately, with results expected to be finalized by February 2025. Additionally, a post-enumeration survey will be conducted to validate the accuracy of the collected data, ensuring its reliability.
Deputy Minister Toe noted that the results of this census will play a crucial role in shaping future educational policy, infrastructure development, and resource allocation to improve learning outcomes nationwide.
“Our aim is to provide timely, quality data each year, offering a transparent view of the health and quality of Liberia’s school system,” Toe concluded.
The Ministry remains committed to improving the accessibility, quality, and effectiveness of education in Liberia, and this year’s school census marks a significant step towards achieving these goals.
