USAID-Supported Group Demands Education Reform Act

By Kingston S. Kolleh
The Inclusive Development Initiative (IDI) with financial support from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) over the weekend released the assessment report on the Education Reform Act (ERA) of 2011.
The report is the summary of key findings of an assessment that was conducted by IDI on education financially under Chapter 9 of the act purposely to investigate the 60 percent signature fees payment by concession companies.
The Sensitization Meeting which was held on the CAMPUS on Carey Street in Monrovia, among other things was intended to present, discuss and distribute copies of the assessment findings and recommendations with education stakeholders and policy makers over the weekend.
The research which was conducted by IDI in Bong, Grand Cape, Nimba and Montserrado Counties was also intended to examine citizens’ knowledge and awareness on Chapter 9 of the ERA as well as to assess compliance to Chapter 9 of the ERA; and also to assess the monitoring and implementation of Chapter 9 of the ERA by the Government of Liberia.
The results showed that some of those who were interviewed during the process said that they were not aware of the act that is geared towards education financing while others stated that they heard about it as regard to compliance by governmental entities like Ministry of Finance Development Finance (MDPF), Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) along with Liberia Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (LEITI) were not considering their oversight but that only Ministry of Education (MoE).
Speaking at the gathering, Alonzo Dixon, Executive Director/ IDI said that their work is focused on advocating for people living with disabilities and underprivileged youths in the country- stating that they are in partnership with United States Agency for International Development (UASID) and Liberia Accountability and Voice Initiative (LAVI) to implement More-for-Education campaign.
“The campaign is aimed at ensuring that education receives 20 percent allotment in the National Budget by the year 2020,” he indicated.
According to him, IDI also advocates for health, entrepreneurship including access to justice for the disable community.
IDI also averred that it is collaborating with youth’s movements, National Teachers Association (NTAL) and others so that their issues can be addressed.
He disclosed that they concluded a study which showed that the status of education for the disabled is very appalling so his entity will continue to work with partners for the realization of their goal.
Eugene Gray Education Specialist/ Education Manager/ UASID, LAVI disclosed that the project implementation is achieving the needed result because during the first year they realized I percent increase to education budget when the budget was 13.7m and in 2018/2019 the percent of increase amounted to 15 percent while in the current budget they again achieved 0.8 percent.
“We have realized the total of 15.8 percent in our two years of project implementation,” he said.
He stressed that from the donor’s perspective, they will continue supporting the project by working with the Civil Society Organizations, the Executives and policy makers for the objectives to be achieved.
Jeffrey Yates, Officer-In- Charge, LEITI stated that since compliance is very critical for the implementation of the project and that since his entity deals with that, LEITI is prepared to work assiduously with others so that education receive its requisite support.
He applauded IDI for making headway in its advocacy for the people living with disabilities and encouraged them to always interact with those who have oversight like CSOs, lawmakers among of others.
For his part, the Vice President/ National Union of Organization of the Disable thanked IDI for the project noting that their plight is very deplorable.
He explained that they have been marginalized with regard to every aspect of life for long time in the society so as head of the disable community they will encourage their colleagues to form part of the project because it is in their favor.