The Liberian government has denied reports that it abandoned Liberian students studying in Morocco, describing the claims as inaccurate and lacking important context.
Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah said the Liberia-Morocco Scholarship Program continues to support more than 147 Liberian students pursuing higher education in the North African country.
He said the government remains current on stipend payments for students who are still within the terms of their approved scholarship agreements.
According to Piah, concerns surrounding the program stem from a 2024 review conducted by the Ministry of Education to assess the status of scholarship beneficiaries.
The review found that some students had remained in Morocco after their scholarship period ended, while others enrolled in additional academic programs without first obtaining government approval.
Piah also said some beneficiaries continued receiving scholarship support even after completing the programs originally covered under the agreement.
He explained that the government provided return airfare for students who successfully completed their studies, but some declined the offer and chose to remain in Morocco to pursue further education.
The minister stressed that government funding does not automatically extend to additional degrees or programs, noting that such requests must be approved and depend on available resources.
He said the government remains committed to fulfilling its obligations to students whose scholarships are still active and in good standing.
Piah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to managing the scholarship program with transparency and accountability while ensuring that future opportunities remain available to other qualified Liberian students.
