In October 2022, the Government of Liberia, with support from IIEP-UNESCO Dakar, completed an analysis of its education sector, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses. The analysis, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed several key findings:
Population Pressure
- Growth: Liberia’s population was over 5 million in 2020, expected to reach 6.4 million by 2030.
- Youth Demographic: 40% of the population in 2020 was under 15, increasing pressure on the education system.
- Projection: By 2030, an additional 483,000 children and youth are expected to enter the education system.
Quality Challenges
- Resources: There is a significant shortage of teaching and learning materials.
- Teachers: High proportion of unqualified teachers, leading to low learning outcomes.
- Textbooks: High pupil/textbook ratios, with primary and secondary students sharing textbooks.
Funding Issues
- Low Spending: Public expenditure on education is 13.8% of government spending or 2.6% of GDP, below the recommended 20% or 4-6% of GDP.
- Disparities: Higher education receives disproportionately more funding than basic and secondary education.
- Regional Comparison: Liberia spends among the lowest per learner in ECOWAS countries.
Workforce Imbalance
- Gender Disparity: The education workforce is male-dominated with significant pay gaps.
- Leadership: Females are underrepresented in school leadership positions.
Early Childhood Education (ECE)
- High Enrolment: Liberia has one of the highest ECE rates in the region, driven by overaged children.
- Teaching Practices: Limited play-based learning and continued use of negative disciplining methods.
Equity Issues
- Retention: Gender and wealth disparities affect retention rates and school life expectancy.
- Access: Children from the poorest families are 21% less likely to access Grade 1 than those from the richest backgrounds.
This analysis sets the foundation for developing Liberia’s new education sector plan to achieve its education goals by 2030.
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