Giving birth to a PhD program in any country requires a lot of thinking, strategic planning, and serious resources (e.g. sustainability). It cannot be done prematurely or haphazardly. I am speaking in my capacity as a former student leader of U.L. This is how U.L. looks right now.
It is not just about saying, “The first PhD program in Liberia was launched under Pres. Boakai.” This is not an achievement but a FIASCO and a FARCE. The advisors of Pres. Boakai should be able to tell him this. Education must never be politicized or pranked because of its invaluable, indispensable, and inelastic impact on this current generation and future generations. Education is our future and our fortune. Don’t play with education because it’s not a prank.
The decision to launch and inaugurate a PhD program is rash and rushed. It’s not timely amid scarce financial resources, limited human capital, huge infrastructure deficits as well as institutional and policy gaps including outdated curriculum. While we welcome this idea of looking forward, thinking big, and working towards establishing a PhD program in Liberia, we must be practical about what is possible now and what can be possible tomorrow.
Why U.L. is not prepared to offer PhD (Research) and Doctoral (Professional) programs:
1) Budgetary Constraint (Tight Fiscal Space):
The cost associated with running a PhD program is super high. The budget of U.L. was just cut from US$33,481,284 to US$32,481,284 (Ref. Recast Budget, 2024). This is a 3% cut or a US$1 million decrease in undergraduate and graduate education. The government is unable to fund the U.L. amid a sharp decline in the quality of education and a sharp increase in academic fraud (e.g. some “professors” and “lecturers” have fake degrees). As of today, undergrad and graduate lecturers have not been paid and they are still due outstanding salary arrears for several months. For instance, at the PhD level, you need money to cover the costs of research, personnel, student support, facilities, overhead, etc. For example, on average, you need at least US$80,000 just for salary alone per PhD faculty member per annum in any serious PhD program.
I have U.L.’s payroll. Just salary alone for undergrad and graduate programs is about US$1.5 million every month. They are spending about US$18 Million on salary per annum which is even insufficient as staffers demand salary increments amid inflationary pressures (cost of living is high). So, what is left with U.L.? US$14 Million. Can US$14 million cover the operational and capital costs of a University with 3 separate campuses? No. This is unrealistic. The University is underfunded. This fact cannot be challenged. Adding a PhD program on top of these prevailing crises is impractical and amounts to overburdening.
2) Low Faculty Profile
The general rule that is almost everywhere: A non-PhD cannot teach PhD programs or preside over PhD students even if you have experience. This is a golden rule in academia everywhere. The faculty profile and human capital of U.L. is inadequate. We’ve exposed more than a dozen faculty members claiming to have obtained “PhD” at U.L. Nothing has been done to address this. The research profile of U.L. is poor. How many research works or research papers have been written and published by professors/lecturers of U.L. in academically recognized peer-reviewed journals? How many times have they been cited, by whom, and where (journals)? The faculty profile even at undergraduate and graduate levels needs serious improvement, enrichment, and enhancement. For example, Madam Bernice Dahn only has an MPH and MD. She doesn’t have a PhD. How can she lead/supervise a PhD program or even teach? Which journal can we find her research work? This is a false start.
3) Poor Infrastructure
To run a PhD program, you must have access to: 1) Technological and Research Infrastructure (unlimited, stable, and fast internet). 2) Research Databases and Libraries including online Libraries. 3) Advanced Laboratories for different specialties (e.g. natural and social sciences). 4) Research, Resource, and Career Development Centers. 5) Learning-friendly Classrooms and Spaces. 6) Smart Evaluation, Enhancement, and Learning Tools/Equipment. 7) Improved Buildings and Hostesses for Faculty and Students. 8)Student Life, etc. Furthermore, relying on PhD faculty from abroad to teach PhD students online in Liberia appears almost impossible. Access to stable and fast internet is rare. The cost associated with this is also high. This is not sustainable.
4) Curriculum, Instructional, and Instructional Gaps
The curriculum used in Liberia is not on par with other countries, even countries in Africa. We have to first reassess or relook at our curriculum and tailor it in line with global standards taking into account local contexts as well (what are our education and development priorities right now?). The time to develop and/or upgrade to a whole new curriculum is now. Some lecturers in our classrooms are not even trained to engage with students. Institutional policies, reporting, and feedback mechanisms are still weak. We need to improve on all of these.
II) Recommendations to Pres. Boakai:
1) The net impact of investing in Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) is far more than investing in PhD programs amid high youth unemployment, drug crisis, crimes, inequality, etc. Even if this is technical support from institutions abroad, let’s divert such support to undergraduate and graduate programs. These two programs still have a lot of challenges and need improvements.
2) Since we want to run a PhD program which is a good idea, let’s do a 5-year plan to start lobbying for resources and investing/constructing/setting up research facilities, libraries, laboratories, hostesses for faculty, resource centers, etc.
3) Cut down on Legislature US$57 Million, EPS US$9.6 Million budget, NSA US$11.9 Million budget. Increase U.L’s US$32.4 Million budget to at least US$50 Million.
4) Develop a Clear-Cut National Education Plan in line with our National Development and Sectoral Plans and Priorities. What are our national priorities right now? Let’s rank them in order of importance. Then we tailor our curriculum in this direction to effectively and strategically invest our meager resources.
5) As we plan within these 5 years, let’s begin to leverage international partnerships and collaborations with credible and advanced Universities in America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The purpose of this is to seek technical support through scholarships, career development, academic enrichment, and enhancement for U.L. faculty who already have Master’s degrees and PhDs. Set a target. At least in 5 years, sponsor and train more than 100 faculty to obtain solid PhDs in areas/disciplines that suit our national development priorities. Let’s equip more Liberians. The millions wasted on public offices and stolen by public officials every year can do a lot.
6) Set up a Fund through an Escrow Account called “PhD Pool Fund for Liberia – 2PFL”. The government should remit at least US$10 Million to this fund every year. In 5 years, you have US$50 Million. There are more than 50 Concessions companies in Liberia that are exploiting, exploring, and exporting our natural resources. Review their Mineral Development Agreements and include a clause that compels them to remit a certain portion of their profits to this Pool Fund. Furthermore, engage international organizations and philanthropists to donate through funds and technical assistance to your vision of running a PhD program in 5 years.
7) Right now, invest and begin to improve U. L’s infrastructure, curriculum, faculty profile, learning environment, student life, research, institutional capacity building, etc. Let’s begin to invest in quality education, especially research.
Closing questions:
1) Are there findings from any study or research that suggest we can sustainably run a PhD program?
2) Can the academic profiles of the potential faculties and administrators who will be teaching and presiding over the PhD programs be made public for scrutiny?
About The Author: Martin K. N. Kollie is an exiled Liberian activist and a former student leader of the University of Liberia. He obtained his master’s in economics of development and is studying for a master of law (LL.M.).
