By Staff Writer | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – A new 2026 report by Human Rights Watch has raised serious concerns about Liberia’s education system, revealing alarming dropout rates, financial barriers, and systemic weaknesses that continue to undermine access to basic schooling across the country.
The report paints a troubling picture of a system in crisis, showing that only 38 percent of Liberian children complete primary education (Grade 6), while a shocking 17 percent manage to reach junior high completion (Grade 9), highlighting what researchers describe as a “severe and widening educational collapse.”
According to the findings, the decline in school retention is being driven largely by rising school-related costs, particularly registration fees, despite government policy stating that public basic education should be free.
The report warns that many parents continue to face unofficial payments and financial demands that make it difficult for children from poor households to remain in school, effectively turning education into a privilege rather than a right.
Conducted between November 2025 and January 2026, the research is based on fieldwork across five counties: Montserrado, Margibi, Grand Bassa, Bong, and Nimba, chosen to reflect both high performing and low performing education environments in Liberia.
Researchers visited 21 schools with a combined enrollment of over 18,500 students and conducted interviews with 179 individuals, including teachers, school administrators, education officers, parents, caregivers, and children aged 9 to 18.
In addition, child advocates aged 16 and 17 carried out peer interviews with 61 children, adding firsthand perspectives from students directly affected by the education system’s shortcomings.
The report further reviewed national education laws, government budgets, and policy frameworks, alongside international sources such as UNICEF, UNESCO, and World Bank reports, to assess Liberia’s compliance with global education standards.
One of the most disturbing findings highlighted in the report is the high rate of school dropouts linked to financial hardship, particularly school registration fees and related costs that many families cannot afford.
A first-grade teacher in Montserrado County described how her class size dropped dramatically during the school year, stating that she began with 150 students but ended with only 90, as many parents could no longer pay school-related expenses.
In Grand Bassa County, a school principal reported that between 10 to 20 percent of students drop out annually, primarily due to economic hardship and inability to meet registration requirements.
Teachers interviewed across the country consistently identified school fees as a major barrier, with one junior high school agriculture teacher in Margibi County stating that “plenty” of students abandon school because their families simply cannot afford the costs.
The human impact of the crisis is reflected in testimonies from students such as James, a 14-year-old boy who dropped out of school in 2024 due to financial difficulties and now works with his mother in informal trade to support the family, despite expressing a strong desire to return to school.
“I really want to go back to school because I want to be educated,” James said, illustrating the broader struggles faced by thousands of Liberian children caught between poverty and education.
The report criticizes the gap between government policy and reality, noting that although public education is officially free, many schools continue to impose fees that place an overwhelming burden on low-income households.
It also highlights inconsistencies in enforcement of education regulations, weak oversight mechanisms, and limited government funding as key structural challenges affecting access and quality.
In its recommendations, Human Rights Watch calls on the Government of Liberia to immediately eliminate registration fees in public primary and junior secondary schools and expand free education guarantees to early childhood and senior secondary levels.
The report further urges reforms to the Education Reform Act of 2011, increased education financing in line with international benchmarks, improved teacher employment and salary structures, and stronger investment in school infrastructure and learning materials.
It also recommends that Liberia increase its education spending to between 15 and 20 percent of the national budget and strengthen taxation systems to support long-term education funding sustainability.
Additionally, the report calls on international partners to increase financial and technical support for Liberia’s education sector, warning that without urgent intervention, the country risks deepening inequality and limiting future economic growth.
High-income countries and development partners are also urged to meet global aid commitments and prioritize education funding, particularly for early childhood and secondary education.
The report concludes with a stark warning that Liberia’s education system is at a critical crossroads, where continued inaction could lock an entire generation out of meaningful educational opportunity.
