The Education Ministry has for the first time showered commendation on the Catholic School System for what it termed as its continued adherence to the country’s education policies.
Education Minister Dao Ansu Sonii told the media, on the Education Ministry’s education-in-midweek program, held on state broadcaster (ELBC) that the Catholic School System’s adherence is in line with the guidelines and regulations of the Ministry.
He then praised the 6, 300 schools and their principals, plus the nearly 60, 000 teachers of primary, junior, and senior secondary schools, for the continued sacrifices made in the sector in the country.
Sonii also revealed that the government is sponsoring 4, 700 students at undergraduate and graduate levels in some major private universities, including, but not limited to Cuttington University Graduate School of Professional Studies.
However, no further elaboration was made on the total number of the sponsored students’ enrollment at both graduate and undergraduate levels in each of those private universities, mainly the ones situated in Montserrado County.
He explained that government is paying fees of US$15, US$18 and US$20 per credit for each undergraduate, and US$75 or US$100 for each graduate student in those universities.
He stated that when the payment of each student for a four year period is calculated, it amounts up to US$2, 500, an indication that government is estimated to be paying over US$90 million over that times, considering the dozens of enrollments yearly.
Sonii said government’s general education policy goes across borders, not only limited to public higher institutions of learning like the University of Liberia or William V. S. Tubman University.
At public universities and colleges, students are enjoying tuition free education, besides the payment of registration fee of L$ 2, 500, an equivalent of US$15 per semester, paid by the students themselves, and the entrance and placement examinations fee of L$ 3,000, an equivalent of US$20.
For basic education, Sonii indicated that 97 percent of 9th graders who wrote the 2022/2023 public examinations, administered by the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), Liberia office, made a successful pass in two out of the four major subjects.
The Minister also boasted of the progression in the sector of the country, like deployment or stationing of 126 District Education Officers and 16 County Education Officers who are principal supervisors of schools.
