By Emmanuel M. Karnga
Monrovia, Liberia–The Minister of Education, Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah, has reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to strengthening foundational learning during a high-level panel discussion held on the sidelines of the 2025 World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C., USA.
The prestigious forum, co-hosted by the Brookings Institution and Human Capital Africa, brought together key global voices in education and finance under the theme: “The Economic Case for Prioritizing Foundational Learning in Africa.”
Minister Jallah served as one of the featured panelists, sharing the stage with global education leaders and development experts including Dr. Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili, Founder of Human Capital Africa; Ben Piper, Director of Global Education at the Gates Foundation; Laura Frigenti, CEO of Global Partnership for Education; Dr. Luis Benveniste, Director for Education at the World Bank; and Emily Gustafsson-Wright, Senior Fellow at Brookings, among others.
Moderated by Dr. Modupe Olateju and Professor Landry Signé, the forum fostered cross-sector collaboration between Ministers of Finance and Ministers of Education from various African nations, focusing on strategic investment in foundational literacy and numeracy as a catalyst for long-term economic growth.
In her remarks, Dr. Jallah emphasized Liberia’s prioritization of foundational learning through initiatives like the upcoming Excellence in Learning (EXCEL) Project, which aims to improve basic literacy and numeracy outcomes nationwide.
“Liberia’s future lies in the classroom, and we are building it step by step,” she stated, underscoring the link between education reform and national development.
The event concluded with a collective call for greater financial and policy support to foundational learning across Africa, positioning education as a cornerstone for sustainable progress.
