For the first time in over four decades, Liberia is seated among the 54-member UNESCO Executive Board, marking a historic moment for the country.
This comes as the 220th session of the UNESCO Executive Board officially opened at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters, on October 14, 2024, bringing together delegates from around the world to discuss crucial global educational, scientific, and cultural matters.
Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah, Liberia’s Minister of Education, took the global stage to present Liberia’s progress in the education sector.
Her speech reflected on the country’s journey, overcoming years of civil conflict, the devastating 2014 Ebola outbreak, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yet, she emphasized the resilience of the Liberian education system, which continues to see significant improvements in access, equity, and quality, thanks in part to UNESCO’s enduring support.
In her address, Dr. Jallah called for increased investment in teacher training and better school infrastructure, pinpointing the lack of qualified teachers and inadequate facilities as key barriers to improving educational outcomes.
She also made a strong case for Liberia’s commitment to girls’ education and inclusive learning, underscoring the government’s priority of ensuring every child, especially girls, has access to quality education.
“Youth development remains at the heart of our educational agenda, given that over 60% of Liberia’s population is under the age of 25,” Dr. Jallah stressed.
She highlighted Liberia’s focus on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as essential for equipping young people with the skills needed for national growth.
An important moment in her speech came when she appealed for the reopening of the UNESCO Antenna Office in Liberia.
The closure of this office has hampered the country’s ability to engage fully with UNESCO programs. Dr. Jallah reiterated that, as a founding member of UNESCO, Liberia’s presence within the organization should be strengthened, starting with more representation at its headquarters.
Liberia’s participation in the UNESCO Executive Board is particularly significant as the country prepares for its role in electing UNESCO’s next Director-General in October 2025.
This engagement, Dr. Jallah expressed, is part of Liberia’s broader commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 4, which focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
Dr. Jallah also reaffirmed Liberia’s support for UNESCO’s “Priority Africa” initiative and its alignment with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future for the continent.
As Liberia continues to strengthen its partnership with UNESCO, the country looks forward to playing an active role in advancing global education and development, with hopes of contributing more significantly to UNESCO’s future programs.
