Monrovia, Liberia – The Excellence in Learning in Liberia (EXCEL) Project was started by President Joseph N. Boakai, who described it as a revolutionary national investment with the goal of providing more than 350,000 Liberian students nationwide with a high-quality, equitable, and resilient education.
Speaking at Monrovia City Hall on Monday, December 15, 2025, President Boakai described the EXCEL Project as a defining statement of Liberia’s commitment to its future and stated it goes beyond a development intervention.
He emphasized that education is still the cornerstone of national growth, saying, “If we fail our children in the classroom, we risk failing the nation tomorrow.”
The EXCEL Project focuses on four key areas: establishing school-based violence prevention programs; building 100 climate-resilient schools to improve equitable access to primary education; launching a school capitation grant program to support renovation, rehabilitation, and performance-based incentives; and bolstering foundational learning systems through annual school census and national learning assessments.
In addition to making schools safer and more resilient, President Boakai claims that the project will empower school administrators in all 15 counties and political districts and increase the capability of over 15,000 teachers.
He claimed that the project is in complete harmony with the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development of his government, especially with regard to its emphasis on the development of human capital. “This is not just a project, and it is not just financing. It is an investment that will pay dividends in higher productivity, reduced inequality, empowered girls, stronger communities, and a more competitive nation,” Boakai explained.
In addition to praising the Republic of Korea’s MAKE Group for their collaboration, the Liberian leader urged educators, parents, community leaders, and development partners to take joint responsibility for the project and urged the legislature to approve the funding as soon as possible to guarantee its timely execution.
In closing, Boakai urged the country to establish excellence in education as the standard. “Let’s make sure that today’s classrooms serve as tomorrow’s engines of prosperity.”
Photo credit: Executive Mansion
