Former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah has warned that Liberia's failure to provide quality education to its citizens could evolve into a national security threat. He cautioned against efforts to lower academic standards simply to increase pass rates. Successive governments have made efforts to expand access to education, but the quality of education remains a major concern. This is particularly worrying amid a declining appetite for knowledge among young Liberians.
Tweah criticized the lowering of passing standards for public examinations, including the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and university entrance examinations. He argued that reducing academic thresholds could undermine the future of Liberian students. "This education challenge must be declared a national security [issue] by this government or any government because if the children of this country are not educated, there is a national security risk for the future," Tweah said.
Tweah made the remarks at the closing and graduation ceremony of the Mother Tegeste Stewart School in Brewerville, outside Monrovia. He argued that Liberia's education system risks becoming too accommodating to students who have not met the required academic standards. Many students have developed a habit of "by-passing the system" rather than putting in the necessary effort to study. Tweah called for stronger academic checkpoints to ensure students meet required standards before advancing.
Tweah said Liberia should focus not only on getting children into schools but also on ensuring that they receive an education capable of preparing them for university, employment, and national development. He warned that compromising academic standards could increase the number of young Liberians leaving the education system without the knowledge and skills required to compete. Tweah also questioned the disparity between students' performance in WASSCE and their subsequent performance in university entrance examinations.
While acknowledging government efforts to expand access to education, Tweah said access alone would not address Liberia's educational challenges unless greater attention was paid to quality. He called for increased government investment in education, including funding for school construction and teacher training, in line with Liberia's commitments under the Maputo Declaration. Tweah also called for the construction of a community college in Montserrado County's District 17.
Tweah said Liberia is facing a broader cultural challenge in which the desire for material prosperity appears to be outpacing the desire for knowledge. He urged students to prioritize learning and resist pressures to compromise their education for short-term pleasure. Addressing the graduates, Tweah said academic performance at graduation should not determine the limits of their future. He encouraged the graduates to take advantage of opportunities presented by the digital age.
The proprietor of Mother Tegeste Stewart School, Bishop Kortu Brown, urged the graduates to remain disciplined and God-fearing as they pursue their future goals. About 42 students who successfully passed the WASSCE graduated from the school. Brown encouraged the graduates to be grateful for completing another stage of their educational journey and urged Liberians to continue peacefully coexisting and working together to address national challenges.
Key points
- Former minister Samuel Tweah warns that Liberia's education crisis could become a national security threat.
- Tweah criticizes the lowering of passing standards for public examinations.
- Tweah calls for increased government investment in education to address Liberia's educational challenges.
