Acquiring value-added education transforms learning from a mere certificate-earning process into a tool for national empowerment, poverty eradication, and self-reliance.
“Value Added Knowledge, or Beacon of Academic Hope, should be a place where the younger generation and all of humanity come to draw from the well (drink from the fountain)of wisdom and knowledge, a space that nourishes critical thinkers, innovators, entrepreneurs, scientists, and socio-economic experts to become our greatest national heroes and heroines.” —Austin S. Fallah.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.: “Youth education and empowerment are cardinal priorities… The failure to tap their potential through education and empowerment to bring out the best in them has cursed our youth. We are committed to investing in the human resource development and capacity building of our youths.”
Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: “Mine has been a long journey, a lifetime journey to Oslo. It was shaped by my parents’ values and by my two grandmothers’… They taught me that only through service is one’s life truly blessed… which led to my conviction that access to quality education is the social justice issue of our time.”
Former President George Manneh Weah: “I agree with those who say education is the essence of life, but I want to go further to say education is life. It doesn’t matter what you do, but as time goes by, you must return to the classroom so you can be of help to yourself and the nation.”
Dr. Jarso Marley Jallah, Minister of Education: “Education is not one person’s business. While the government plays a cardinal role, the sector stands to improve with the collective efforts of parents, teachers, and every Liberian citizen.”
UNICEF Liberia: “Providing children with quality education is fundamental to Liberia’s progress and prosperity. It is also a key priority… to the realization of children’s right to education.”
Leymah R. Gbowee: “Really and truly, the kind of education the world needs makes people more compassionate and humane.”
Amos Sumo (Contributing Writer / Commentator on Liberia’s Recovery): “Our education should be demonstrated through the execution of our development plans, not just in terminology. Our education should be able to end poverty given the number of mineral resources… to invent, create, establish, provide, and improve the standard of living of our people.”
Inspiring Youth for a Better Society (Liberian Youth Advocacy Group): “The future is not a gift; it is an achievement. Liberia’s challenges—be they unemployment, corruption, inequality, or underdevelopment—cannot be solved by rhetoric alone. They demand courage, innovation, discipline, and commitment.”
By: Austin S. Fallah – A True Son of the Planet Earth Soil: fallahas@yahoo.com.
In an era characterized by rapid technological advancement and global interconnectedness, the importance of quality education cannot be overemphasized.
Education, particularly value-added education, serves as a vital tool for personal growth, societal improvement, and national development.
For Liberia, a country grappling with the scars of civil conflict and persistent underdevelopment, the call for quality education is both urgent and necessary, the pursuit of knowledge awakens individuals’ potential and, when augmented by wisdom, empowers communities, towns, villages, boroughs, cities, districts, counties, and the nation.
Liberian educated individuals have a unique responsibility to harness their knowledge for the benefit of their nation and its people, particularly future generations.
They must guide young people away from the shadows of ignorance and despair, as the biblical verse “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6) warns.
The essence of education transcends mere academic achievement; it is about cultivating critical thinkers, entrepreneurs, and intellectual competitors, fostering innovation, and equipping young people to compete on an international stage.
This open-for-discussion article will argue that educated Liberians must actively transform their country’s educational landscape, not only for individual success but also for the collective upliftment of society.
The Current State of Education in Liberia:
To understand the imperative of quality education in Liberia, it is essential to assess the current state of the educational system. Liberia’s education sector, long plagued by underfunding, inadequate infrastructure, and a shortage of qualified teachers, finds itself in dire need of reform.
The civil wars from 1989 to 2003 devastated the country, leading to the destruction of schools and a significant loss of human capital.
Young people, who are supposed to be the torchbearers of the nation, instead find themselves marginalized by a system that has failed them.
Moreover, the pervasive influence of uneducated matters, empty political tautologies, and dehumanizing poverty conditions has contributed to a culture of hopelessness among the youth.
Many young Liberians graduate without the necessary skills and knowledge to compete effectively in a globalized world.
This educational deficit fosters a cycle of poverty and disenfranchisement, which can only be disrupted through a renewed commitment to quality education.
Educated Liberians must recognize that their own achievements can serve as beacons of hope for others.
By establishing mentorship programs, community learning centers, libraries, and scholarship initiatives, they can directly influence the educational aspirations of disadvantaged youths and young people.
Such efforts not only help individuals but also invigorate communities, resulting in ripples of empowerment throughout society.
The Role of Educated Liberians in Revitalizing Education:
Liberia’s educated sons and daughters possess a wealth of knowledge and experience that is invaluable for the nation’s revival.
They must actively engage with local communities, and the Education Ministry(The minister and others at the ministry must be willing to lend their ears, listen keenly, learn, take notes, and implement suggestions, “not I know it all because I hold a doctoral or master’s degree that makes me a superhuman being) for positive outcomes and outputs.
Those are pieces of paper that many of us have acquired plenty of, but what you do with them to move the academic and intellectual post for the betterment of humanity is what counts, leveraging their education to drive positive change.
This influence can take many forms, including tutoring, developing educational materials, and advocating for educational reforms that prioritize quality over quantity.
Engaging in community mentorship programs is an effective strategy for Liberian-educated individuals.
These programs can focus on empowering youth by improving literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking skills.
By fostering a culture of learning and intellectual curiosity, educated individuals can inspire young people to pursue their education and, importantly, understand the value of knowledge not just for personal gain, but for societal benefit.
In addition to informal educational initiatives, there is a pressing need for Liberians with advanced degrees to contribute to the formal education and online educational systems as educators and administrators.
By bringing innovative teaching practices and modern curricula into classrooms and online, they can significantly enhance the learning environment.
These individuals should collaborate with the government (Ministry of Education, Higher Education Commission, and universities) and other educational institutions to develop frameworks that prioritize quality education and address both infrastructural deficits and the need for trained teaching personnel.
Fostering Critical Thinking and Innovation:
One of the foremost gifts that education can bestow upon an individual is the capacity for critical thought.
It engenders awareness of one’s surroundings and fosters problem-solving skills crucial to personal and community development.
Liberian educators have a responsibility to teach students how to analyze information critically, question assumptions, and seek innovative solutions to complex problems.
For young people to become innovative thinkers, the education system must encourage creativity and exploration.
This includes a curriculum that embraces the sciences, arts, and technology, preparing students for a wide array of potential careers.
Educated Liberians can take the lead in developing programs that not only teach foundational knowledge but also promote creative thinking and hands-on learning opportunities.
More overt technological advancement offers unique opportunities for Liberian youths to engage with the world beyond their borders.
By integrating technology into the educational framework, educators can connect students with global networks of knowledge and innovation.
This approach will not only enhance the quality of education but will also prepare young Liberians to compete in an increasingly digital world.
The Importance of Community Engagement:
For the educational transformation in Liberia to be sustainable, it must involve the entire nation, including the diaspora community.
Every well-meaning Liberian must embrace the value of education, recognizing that it is both a personal and collective responsibility.
Educated Liberians can facilitate community workshops and discussions to raise awareness about the importance of education, driving home the message that investing in knowledge is an investment in the future.
Community engagement can also help dismantle the socio-economic barriers that hinder educational access.
By collaborating with local leaders and organizations, Liberian-educated individuals can spearhead initiatives that provide scholarships, free tutoring, and other resources to students from underprivileged backgrounds.
This holistic approach is essential for fostering an environment where education is valued and seen as a pathway out of poverty and despair.
Furthermore, educated Liberians should advocate for policy changes that improve educational access and equity.
Engaging policymakers to prioritize funding for schoolteacher training programs and educational resources is crucial.
Legislative reforms that promote education as a fundamental right will ensure that future generations have the opportunity to thrive academically.
A Call to Action and Engagement: No time for Lakadisical Attitude:No Time for Abecedarian Solutions: The Solutions must be Workable and Implementable for Positive Change:
Quality education is not merely an academic privilege; it is a fundamental human right that can uplift individuals and entire nations.
In Liberia, the need for educated and engaged citizens has never been more profound.
The torchbearers of knowledge must recognize their unique position to positively influence the next generation, shaping them into critical thinkers, innovators, and, ultimately, the leaders of tomorrow.
The biblical passage, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge,” serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of ignorance.
Liberians have the opportunity to turn this narrative around.
By committing to community engagement, fostering critical thinking, and promoting educational accessibility, educated individuals can create a legacy of empowerment that lasts for generations.
Now is the time for Liberians to step forward, to dedicate themselves to the cause of education, and to ensure that no youth or young person perishes “in a river where Hala-Na-Meleka-God-Almighty has placed plentiful knowledge and a promising future.”
With wisdom and fervor, let every Liberian breathing air embark on this critical journey toward a brighter future for Liberia, one where quality education becomes the cornerstone of societal improvement and individual success.
