GBARNGA, Bong County – August 1, 2026 – A new chapter in Liberia’s education sector has begun as LICOSESS College of Education officially assumed the management of the CAN Leadership Academy School System following the signing of a landmark 15-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Opportunity Network Liberia (ONL).
The agreement, signed on Saturday at the CAN Leadership Academy campus in Gbarnga, places the academic, administrative, and institutional management of the CAN school system under LICOSESS College of Education, while Opportunity Network Liberia retains strategic oversight as the founding institution.
The partnership covers all CAN Leadership Academy campuses in Montserrado, Bong, and Nimba Counties, making it one of the most significant private education collaborations in Liberia in recent years.
According to the agreement, LICOSESS will oversee academic programs, quality assurance, institutional administration, teacher development, and overall school management for the next 15 years, beginning in August 2026.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Opportunity Network Liberia Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Eric Wowoh, and LICOSESS College of Education President, Dr. Benjamin Wehyee, described the agreement as a transformative step that will improve access to quality education, strengthen teacher preparation, and build a more sustainable educational system across Liberia.
The partnership follows a series of transition meetings held from July 30–31, 2026, in Jacob Town (Montserrado County), Gbarnga (Bong County), and Neigbein (Nimba County), where administrators, teachers, and support staff were introduced to the new governance structure and implementation plan.
As part of the agreement, CAN Leadership Academy will also become an official LICOSESS Demonstration School, providing student teachers with practical classroom experience while enhancing the quality of instruction for learners across the academy.
The three-campus network currently serves nearly 1,700 students across Liberia and includes dozens of classrooms, administrative offices, modern sanitation facilities, standby generators, running water systems, Starlink internet connectivity, vocational training equipment, science laboratories, musical instruments, and guest house facilities.
The agreement also paves the way for the relocation and expansion of LICOSESS College of Education programs to the Jacob Town campus beginning with the September–November 2026 trimester, while strengthening its presence in Bong and Nimba Counties.
In addition to expanding higher education opportunities, the partnership introduces major governance reforms, including strengthened financial management systems, transparent human resource policies, continuous professional development for teachers, child protection measures, and enhanced accountability mechanisms.
Implementation has already begun, with activities including infrastructure upgrades, teacher training, student recruitment for the 2026/2027 academic year, vacation enrichment programs, and the admission of students from Nursery through Grade 12.
The signing ceremony attracted senior administrators, faculty members, teachers, students, and invited guests, all of whom described the agreement as the beginning of a new era for both institutions.
Education stakeholders believe the partnership will serve as a model for educational transformation by combining LICOSESS College of Education’s expertise in teacher education with Opportunity Network Liberia’s investment in educational infrastructure and community development.
