Monrovia, Liberia – The World Bank through it Country Manager in Liberia has committed it’s stronger commitment to support the Government of Liberia historic EXCEL project. Speaking at the signing ceremony of a US$88.7 million Excellence in Learning in Liberia (EXCEL) project at the Executive Mansion, World Bank representative to Liberia, Madam Georgia Wallen said, “I want to affirm the WBG’s strong commitment to supporting the GOL’s implementation of this historic project.”
“EXCEL is a flagship project under the recently approved new Country Partnership Framework and will be launched later this year,” she said.
According to her, the initiative is a cornerstone of the new CPF’s emphasis on laying the groundwork for more and better jobs. “It will take coordinated and concentrated efforts from all partners to deliver transformation. We are eager to strengthen our cooperation for quantifiable achievements and results by collaborating closely with development partners, civic society, and education stakeholders,” Madam Wallen said.
She also praised the Boakai administration and expressed gratitude to education Minister Jallah for her visionary and supportive leadership. Madame Wallen, “Thanks also to the World Bank team for their profound dedication and commitment, and to the Ministry of Education team, both past and present, for their excellent collaboration.”
According to the World Bank Country representative, Liberia ranks 171 out of 174 countries evaluated, making it one of the countries with some of the lowest human capital development outcomes worldwide. According to her data, Liberian students are said to have the lowest learning-adjusted years of schooling globally.
Lack of knowledge results in missed chances, ambitions, goals, and productivity, she said, adding that while the figures are striking, they do not adequately represent the names and lives that are represented. Madam Wallen added that young Liberians deserve more and better; stating, EXCEL is a down payment on the transformation that is needed, and time is of the essence.
“We look forward to working closely with education stakeholders in Liberia. We are very grateful to GPE for the outstanding partnership on this important project,” she said.
She maintained that EXCEL aims to strengthen the educational system in order to produce system transformation while simultaneously addressing the underlying causes of the poor learning outcomes in Liberia’s public primary schools.
This, the World Bank representative said, will involve giving foundational learning and the creation of teaching and learning resources top priority, providing evidence-based instruction on foundational learning, enhancing equitable access to primary education, strengthening the student learning assessment system, improving the school grant program, preventing violence in schools, and using better data from the education sector to inform decisions.
She remarked that Liberia has five more years to fulfill its Vision 2030. Five years to accelerate performance and regain lost ground.
