MONROVIA, Liberia – The Government of Liberia has announced that all registration fees for pupils attending public primary schools will be abolished beginning with the 2026/2027 academic year, in what authorities describe as a major step toward expanding access to education.
Making the announcement, Minister of Education Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah said that children enrolled in public schools from kindergarten through Grade Six will no longer be required to pay registration fees.
“We are asking parents to simply take their children to school,” Dr. Jallah said. “If any public school demands registration fees, report it immediately to the Ministry of Education.”
According to the Minister, the Ministry will establish reporting channels, including a dedicated contact number and field personnel across the country, to receive complaints from parents whose children are asked to pay unauthorized registration fees.
Dr. Jallah also reminded parents that Liberia’s Education Act makes primary education compulsory. She cited provisions of the law stating that parents or guardians who fail, without a valid reason, to enroll their school-age children after receiving written notice from a school may be guilty of a misdemeanor under Liberia’s Penal Law.
“If you do not take your children to school and you do not have a qualified reason, you are guilty of a misdemeanor under the Penal Law according to the Education Act,” she emphasized, urging parents to ensure that every eligible child attends school.
The Education Minister noted that the government’s free registration initiative will be financed through the EXCEL Project and school grants that will be distributed to public schools nationwide. She explained that the grants will also support other essential school-related needs beyond registration costs.
Dr. Jallah assured parents that the Ministry will launch a nationwide public awareness campaign to inform communities that registration fees for pupils in public schools from kindergarten through Grade Six have been eliminated.
The initiative is expected to reduce the financial burden on families and increase enrollment in public primary schools as the government continues efforts to strengthen access to basic education across Liberia.
