MONROVIA – The Ministry of Education has fined the Firestone Liberia School System Five Hundred Thousand Liberian Dollars (LRD 500,000) for violating national graduation regulations, warning all schools across the country to comply with established standards or face sanctions.
According to the Ministry, the school conducted a graduation ceremony on Sunday, September 28, 2025, involving students who did not meet the minimum requirements set by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). Official results show that only 27 students passed the required five subjects in the WASSCE, including Mathematics and English, making them eligible to graduate.
Despite this, Firestone reportedly included unqualified students in its ceremony. The Ministry described the act as a direct violation of regulations that apply equally to public and private schools nationwide.
Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Sharp stressed that the government would not compromise the integrity of the education system. “We cannot allow any school to undermine national policies and mislead students and parents with ceremonial shortcuts,” Sharp declared. “This penalty sends a clear message that all institutions, no matter their status, must comply with the rules.”
The Ministry’s statement further outlined that the school has 14 days to settle the fine or risk additional administrative measures, including suspension of its operational permit. Officials emphasized that the action was not intended to weaken partnerships with private institutions but rather to protect the credibility and fairness of the system.
“This is about upholding standards, not targeting any institution,” Sharp added. “Our duty is to ensure that Liberian students receive real opportunities through hard work, not through compromised processes.”
The Ministry has also announced that compliance monitoring will be intensified across all counties in the coming academic year. Parents, administrators, and local education officers have been urged to support the enforcement drive to safeguard the quality of Liberia’s education system.
