By: Emmanuel T. Kamanda
MONROVIA- Considering the economic hardship and the lack of scholarships for Liberia students and in line with the mission of The Salvation Army global, the President of the University, Professor Jonathan Minagogo Hart, with the approval of the Board of Trustees, has announced a 50% reduction in credit hours for students enrolling in the university as of May 16, 2026.
Professor Hart, who is a former street child, emphasized the need for university across the country to reduce fees in an effort to create opportunity for children of the most vulnerable and underserved population to have access to tertiary education.
Professor Hart added that, students that will pass the placement and entrance exams for the college of health sciences will now pay US$7.5 per credit hour instead of the regular USD$15, while those of the rest of the colleges (Agriculture, Business, Education and Theology and Engineering) will pay USD6.00 per credit hour instead of US$12.
The university believes that with this reduction in fees, many of those students who are having difficulty enrolling in university and find themselves rooming in the street and communities doing nothing productive, will now have an alternative to achieving their goals.
The church says it is its own way of contributing yet, towards the growth and development of the country and building a solid bridge that connects the underprivileged and the privileged population in the country.
With this new fees, The Salvation Army Polytechnic University becomes the cheapest faith based university in the country.
The university offers both academic and vocational education programs and runs three semesters per year.
Entrance and placement exams are administered every day of the week between 8am and 4pm and results are given within one hour upon completion of the exams. Classes resume in July of this year.
Dr. Hart, who was promoted to the rank of full professor in January of 2025 after assuming the position of president of the University, encourages all students and would be students to take advantage of this opportunity to obtain their degree and become productive citizens.
Professor Hart said his decision to advance the request to reduce the fees at the university reflects the economic hardship that many families are faced with and also, the experience of his days as a street kid. He also stated that, as a street child and an orphan, he also benefited from free accommodation, feeding and education from The Salvation Army and believed that it’s the right of every child and person to have access to affordable and quality education.
