MONROVIA – The House of Representatives Joint Committee on Education and Public Administration, Judiciary, Banking and Finance, and Ways, Means and Finance on Wednesday held a public hearing with the Ministry of Education and other key stakeholders regarding the proposed ratification of a US$60 million International Development Association (IDA) credit intended to finance the Liberia Excellence in Learning (EXCEL) Project.
Opening the session, Hon. Nyan Flomo, Chair of the Committee on Education and Public Administration, said the hearing was convened to critically examine the loan agreement in line with the Legislature’s constitutional mandate to ensure proper oversight and accountability in public spending.
He stressed that while lawmakers acknowledge the urgent need for major investment in Liberia’s struggling education system, such a financial commitment must be properly justified and aligned with national priorities.
“Our role is to be stewards of the public purse,” Hon. Flomo said. “A loan of this magnitude is not a grant; it is a debt that will be borne by future generations. Therefore, our approval cannot be automatic; it must be earned and justified.”
In her presentation, Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah explained that the Liberia EXCEL Project seeks to enhance foundational learning outcomes across 2,337 public schools nationwide. She disclosed that the US$60 million IDA credit will unlock an additional US$28.7 million grant from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), bringing the total package to US$88.7 million.
Dr. Jallah noted that the initiative is designed to strengthen early childhood and primary education, close the education financing gap, and support the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
The joint legislative hearing continues as lawmakers review the Ministry’s presentation and assess the broader fiscal and developmental implications of the proposed loan before deciding on its ratification.
