PARIS, FRANCE – Liberia has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to multilateral cooperation, sustainable development, and the transformative role of education, science, and culture on the global stage. Speaking on April 7, 2025, at the 221st Session of the UNESCO Executive Board in Paris, Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah delivered a powerful statement on behalf of the Liberian government and its people.
Dr. Jallah stressed that Liberia remains fully engaged with UNESCO’s global priorities, especially under the leadership of Director-General Audrey Azoulay and the Priority Africa initiative. She urged fellow Member States to elevate education, science, and culture as core pillars of the international development agenda.
“Let us ensure that education, science, and culture remain central to our global development agenda,” Dr. Jallah said. “We must move beyond rhetoric to concrete actions that uphold human dignity, empower communities, and drive collective prosperity.”
Highlighting Liberia’s national priorities, Dr. Jallah outlined recent education sector reforms aimed at improving quality, accountability, and equity across the country. She noted that 156 public schools in all 15 counties are now being equipped with solar-powered C3 Micro Cloud Systems to enhance digital learning access, particularly in underserved rural areas.
She also acknowledged UNESCO’s vital role in Liberia’s progress through the Capacity Development for Education Programme (CapED), which has enabled the integration of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) data into the national Education Management Information System. This move, she said, is enhancing evidence-based planning and decision-making in the education sector.
Turning to science and the environment, Dr. Jallah announced Liberia’s adoption of the Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis (CRIDA) methodology under UNESCO’s guidance to protect three major watersheds that serve over 40 percent of the nation’s population. She further commended the establishment of Innovation Hubs at four regional universities, facilitated by UNESCO’s STEM initiatives.
On the cultural front, Dr. Jallah highlighted Liberia’s active participation in the MONDIACULT 2025 regional consultations, aimed at aligning national cultural policies with sustainable development goals. She also revealed Liberia’s forthcoming involvement in the West Africa Conference on Information Integrity, highlighting the importance of cultural preservation and responsible digital citizenship in today’s information age.
In her closing remarks, Dr. Jallah voiced Liberia’s support for the Africa Group’s position, calling for sustained investment in UNESCO’s core areas, particularly digital transformation, teacher training, and the inclusion of African heritage sites in future UNESCO Global Geoparks listings.
