By Our Reporter | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – As schools across Liberia prepare to conclude the 2025/2026 academic year, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has announced approved graduation fees for public and private institutions while warning school authorities against imposing unauthorized charges on students and parents.
The directive, issued Monday, June 15, 2026, under the leadership of Education Minister Jarso Marley Jallah, establishes uniform graduation fees for kindergarten, primary, junior high, and senior high school graduates nationwide.
According to the Ministry, public Grade 12 students will pay a graduation fee of LRD 5,000, while private Grade 12 students will be required to pay US$100 or its equivalent in Liberian dollars. For Grades 6 and 9, public school students will pay LRD 3,500 each, while their counterparts in private schools will pay LRD 6,000 each.
The Ministry further approved a graduation fee of LRD 2,500 for public kindergarten (K2) students and LRD 5,000 for private kindergarten students.
In announcing the approved fees, Minister Jallah emphasized that schools are prohibited from charging parents and students any graduation-related fees beyond the amounts authorized by the Ministry.
“Schools are not authorized to impose, demand, or collect graduation-related fees beyond the amounts approved by the Ministry of Education,” Minister Jallah stated.
The Ministry’s intervention comes amid recurring complaints from parents and guardians about excessive graduation charges imposed by some schools at the end of academic years. Education authorities say the new measures are intended to ensure uniformity, affordability, and compliance across the country’s education system.
The Ministry also clarified that graduation fees may only be collected after the official release of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results, a move aimed at preventing premature collections from students and families.
“Graduation fees shall be collected only after the official release of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results. No school is authorized to collect graduation fees before the results are officially announced,” Minister Jallah stressed.
The directive is expected to affect hundreds of schools and thousands of graduating students nationwide as preparations intensify for graduation ceremonies marking the end of the school year.
Additionally, the Ministry placed restrictions on graduation exercises for lower academic levels, noting that Grade 6 and Grade 9 graduation programs will only be permitted when those grades represent the terminal level of the institution.
“Graduation exercises for Grades 6 and 9 are permitted only when these classes represent the terminal level of the institution,” the Minister noted.
Education officials believe the measures will help reduce the financial burden on parents while ensuring that graduation ceremonies are conducted within established national guidelines.
With the school year drawing to a close, the Ministry has called on administrators of both public and private institutions to strictly adhere to the approved fee structure and graduation regulations. Authorities have warned that schools found violating the directive could face administrative sanctions for failing to comply with Ministry policies.
