Monrovia – The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Education (MOE), has announced that only 1,000 out of 6,600 volunteer teachers will be included on the payroll in the 2025 National Budget. This decision, which affects 85% of the volunteer teachers, means that the majority will continue without financial compensation despite their ongoing service.
MOE officials explained that the decision is a result of budgetary constraints, with the ministry having no other option but to pay only 1,000 volunteer teachers due to the approved budget allocation. The announcement was made during a public hearing held by the Liberian Senate on the effects of the USAID aid freeze on Liberia.
Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Education, Nyekpeh Y. Forkpa, addressed the issue, confirming that the budgetary limitations prevent the full inclusion of all volunteer teachers on the government payroll. He explained that the selection of the 1,000 teachers would be based on an ongoing rigorous assessment process to evaluate their qualifications and suitability for teaching services. However, he did not specify how the teachers would be chosen or how many would come from each county.
Forkpa expressed concern about the potential consequences of excluding the remaining 5,600 volunteer teachers, warning that it could lead to significant disruptions in the country’s classrooms. “We don’t have the capacity to remove them. If we do, there will be major disruptions in classrooms across the country,” he cautioned.
