Liberia: Accepts public partnership in education system

Education Minister George Werner has clarified that government is not privatizing the nation’s public education system. Rather, he said, it is entering into a public-private partnership education plan.

According to the VOA, the government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Bridge International Academies, a low-cost nursery and primary private school chain that uses a technology-based approach to provide standardized education to students in developing countries.

The memorandum of understanding said the government of Liberia «will provide key financial contribution to ensure the success of the pilot project, including «The physical premises, buildings, furnishings and fittings of each pilot school».

According to Minister Warner, the government will continue with the costs related to school infrastructure and teachers’ pay, whereas, the rest of the money around US$10 million or so is coming from private philanthropists. The announcement has sparked a firestorm of criticism from teachers, civil society groups, and even the UN special rapporteur on the right to education. But Minister Werner said the current performance level of Liberian schools requires drastic action.