Africa-Press – Liberia. The Civil Society Education Coalition has hailed the government for making strides to increase the 2023 education budget for schools across the country.
At a press conference, the group said the action symbolizes Liberia’s commitment to overcoming “barriers that hinder quality education.”
“We firmly believe that education is the cornerstone of societal transformation,” said Siemon L. Wee, Umovement, a member of the coalition.
Wee, who read the statement on behalf of the Coalition said, the increment would pave the way for a new path for reform and development in the education sector.
The group includes the Youth Movement for Collective Action (UMovement), Institute for Democratic Action and Development (IDAD), Institute for Research for Democratic Development (IREDD), Development Education Network-Liberia (DEN_L), and Integrity Watch Liberia (IWL).
Others include Survivors Aid International Liberia, the Institute for Policy Evaluation Research, and the Youth Coalition for Education in Liberia,
has been advocating for the increase of the education budget to 20 percent. The Coalition recently concluded a meeting with lawmakers to rally for an increase in the national educational budget from 16.3 percent to 20 percent. The group believes the 20 percent increment meets international standards as stipulated by the Global Partnership for Education.
They added that the increment is in alignment with the government of Liberia’s commitment to the Incheon declaration in 2015 and the Dakar Framework 2002. “These commitments are not just obligations, but a testament to Liberia’s dedication to providing quality education for its citizens.”
“We believe compliance with benchmark aligns with global best practices and provides necessary resources to bolster underfunded education initiatives. Notably, some countries in the region like Sierrea Leone, Guinea, and Ghana have since surpassed this threshold, underscoring the imperative for Liberia to follow suit.”
According to Wee, Umovement Program Officer, increasing the education budget to at least 20 percent of the national budget is crucial to developing the education sector. “It must be a key priority of the Liberian government. We further call on the government of Liberia to invest in monitoring mechanisms that will curb corruption, strengthen accountability, and improve learning outcomes in public schools.”
“By increasing funding to 20 percent, Liberia can foster an environment conducive to educational excellence and empower its citizens to thrive in the global knowledge economy.”
Funded by USAID through the Civil Society Activity (CSA), aimed to push for an additional 3.7 percent in the educational budget. The proposed budget increase, from US$105,957,481 to US$129,975,393, is intended to lead to various improvements in the education sector. These include the onboarding of 6,000 teachers onto the Government’s payroll (2 per school), provision of school supplies to 2,813 schools (US$2,600 per school), and upgrading school facilities for 2,813 schools ($1,298.7 per school).
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