Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph N. Boakai has renewed his administration’s national drive to bring 250,000 out-of-school children back into the classroom by 2029, warning that Liberia cannot afford to leave an entire generation behind. Speaking Friday, August 14, 2026, during the Back to My Classroom (BTMC) National Steering Committee Presidential Midterm Review, Boakai called for stronger coordination among government institutions, county authorities, communities, families, schools, civil society organizations,, and development partners to ensure that children are not only enrolled but also remain in school and have the support needed to succeed.
Launched in 2024, the BTMC Campaign aims to return 250,000 out-of-school children to education by 2029, with an initial target of 80,000 children across seven priority counties in 2026. Moreover, President Boakai formally endorsed the rollout of the strengthened BTMC model to six additional priority counties, following the establishment of the campaign’s first county-level structure in Gbarpolu County. President stressed that the campaign must be treated as a national responsibility, requiring sustained leadership and action at every level of society.
For her part, Liberia’s Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah said the government remains determined to turn the president’s commitment into measurable results, emphasizing that getting children through school gates is only the beginning. According to the minister, poverty, long distances to schools, disabilities, lack of birth certificates, inadequate school infrastructure, and other social and economic barriers continue to prevent thousands of Liberian children from accessing and remaining in school. She said the government’s response must therefore go beyond enrollment by ensuring that vulnerable children receive the coordinated services necessary to remain in school and thrive.
The midterm review brought together key government ministries and agencies, including Education, Health, Gender, Children and Social Protection, Local Government, Finance and Development Planning and LISGIS, alongside UNICEF, development partners, county authorities and civil society organizations. The broad participation reflects the BTMC model, which seeks to bring multiple services and institutions together to address the challenges confronting individual children.
Since its launch, the campaign has strengthened national coordination, drawn lessons from the Grand Bassa pilot, established the first County Steering Committee and Secretariat in Gbarpolu, and advanced systems for child-level tracking, coordinated referrals, retention, and accountability.
