By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
MONROVIA – President Joseph Boakai, officially launched the Excellence in Learning in Liberia (EXCEL) Project, a nationwide effort to improve foundational literacy and numeracy in all public early childhood and primary schools.
The Ministry of Education leads the project, funded by $60 million concessional credit from the World Bank’s IDA and a $28.7 million grant from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), totaling $88.7 million.
Project Scope and Impact: Targets 2,337 public schools across all 15 counties, Benefits an estimated 362,000 students, teachers, and education staff, Provides improved learning materials for 350,000 students (early childhood to Grade 6), Trains 12,000 teachers and principals in teaching, leadership, and data use, Builds capacity for 14,000 school management committee members and education officials and Nearly 48% of beneficiaries are female, supporting gender equity goals
Madam Georgia Wallen, World Bank Country Manager, hailed EXCEL as Liberia’s largest education investment, aligned with national Vision 2030 and the ARREST Agenda.
She praised the government’s leadership and the project’s focus on inclusion and school leadership.
Minister of Education Dr. Jarso Marley Jallah described EXCEL as a “game-changing intervention” that addresses Liberia’s learning crisis through practical, classroom-level solutions.
Call to Action
President Boakai then urged the National Legislature to ratify the $60 million IDA credit promptly to enable nationwide rollout.
“This is a national effort that touches every county, every classroom, and every child,” he emphasized.
Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuan signed for Liberia, and Madam Georgia Wallen signed for the World Bank.
