President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has officially launched Liberia’s first doctoral programs at the University of Liberia.
Held at the Capitol Hill Campus of the University, the historic occasion marks a major milestone in Liberia’s academic development and positions the country to significantly enhance its intellectual and research capacities.
In a special remark, President Boakai described the launch of the Ph.D. programs in Health Sciences and Education Administration as a transformative step in the nation’s education sector, aligning with the Government’s long-term vision for inclusive development.
“This marks a turning point in Liberia’s higher education landscape. These programs are part of my Government’s deliberate efforts to strengthen academic excellence, research, and innovation in Liberia,” the President stated, noting further, “By advancing our intellectual and scientific capabilities, we are positioning Liberia to
thrive in a knowledge-based global economy.”
The doctoral programs, President Boakai emphasized, are an essential component of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), which is now being implemented as Liberia’s national development plan.
The AAID prioritizes education alongside Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Sanitation, and Tourism as key pillars for national progress.
“Education is the bedrock of sustainable development, and these doctoral programs come at an opportune time in our nation’s journey toward renewal. They will contribute to solving the challenges in our educational system, including access, quality, and outcomes,” President Boakai said.
Amid this development, Liberians have disagreed with the government’s approach to introducing PhD programs when the undergraduate and master’s programs are largely challenged including financial, human capital, institutional, infrastructural, and policy constraints.
A commenter on Facebook said, “The University campus cannot even be painted with B.Sc. teaching B.Sc. and Master’s teaching Master’s, how can the government be launching a PhD program. Is this a play or what? Try to strengthen undergraduate and graduate education first before thinking about a PhD.”
