The Liberian Senate’s Committee on Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget has concluded its public hearings on the proposed US$88.7 million EXCEL Education Project, a landmark agreement between the Government of Liberia and the World Bank designed to overhaul the nation’s struggling public primary education system. During the hearing, Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Education, Nyekpeh Forkpa, explained that the EXCEL Project represents a “critical investment in Liberia’s human capital,” aiming to construct over 100 new modern public primary schools across the country.
The initiative, he said, will enhance teacher training programs, introduce digital learning tools, and improve classroom environments especially in rural areas where learning conditions remain dire. “The project is designed to address classroom overcrowding, strengthen early grade learning outcomes, and provide rural children with access to quality education,” Forkpa emphasized. Committee Chair Senator Prince K. Moye of Bong County described the financing arrangement as “one of the most favorable in Liberia’s development history.” According to Moye, the package includes a US$60 million interest-free International Development Association (IDA) loan, repayable over 50 years, complemented by a US$28.7 million grant from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).
“This is one of the best loan arrangements in our recent history,” Senator Moye said while briefing the Senate Plenary. “The US$60 million is interest-free, repayable in 50 years, and once ratified, it unlocks a US$28.7 million free grant from GPE bringing the total to US$88.7 million. Every district across Liberia’s 73 electoral districts will benefit, with US$500,000 allotted for different educational activities.” Moye added that the agreement stands as a significant opportunity to accelerate educational reforms and address systemic challenges that have plagued the sector for decades. “If we can fast-track this process, it will be a major breakthrough for our country’s education system,” he urged.
Despite widespread optimism, Gbarpolu County Senator Gbotoe Kanneh raised critical concerns regarding the fate of volunteer teachers many of whom have served for years without formal employment and the need for specialized training for teachers deployed in remote areas. He cautioned that the project’s success must not bypass those who have been the backbone of Liberia’s rural education system. “The Ministry must ensure that teachers in the hinterlands are not left behind,” Kanneh stressed, calling for a comprehensive implementation plan that includes the recruitment and training of rural educators.
The EXCEL Education Agreement aligns with Liberia’s National Education Sector Plan (NESP), which seeks to ensure universal access to quality primary education by addressing infrastructure gaps, improving teacher capacity, and integrating modern learning tools into classrooms. Senator Moye confirmed that the Committee on Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget will submit its final report to the Senate Plenary on November 18, 2025, paving the way for potential ratification. “If endorsed,” Moye noted, “this agreement will stand as one of the most transformative educational investments in our nation’s history an investment that could reshape the learning landscape for generations of Liberian children.”
Observers view the EXCEL Project as a pivotal moment for Liberia’s education sector, which continues to recover from years of underinvestment, civil conflict, and post-pandemic disruptions. The project’s implementation is expected to create thousands of teaching and construction jobs, expand access to modern learning resources, and ultimately strengthen Liberia’s foundation for sustainable national development. As the Senate prepares for its final vote, hopes are high that the EXCEL initiative will usher in a new era of inclusive, equitable, and high-quality education turning what Senator Moye described as “the best loan in our history” into a lasting legacy for Liberia’s next generation.
Author: Zac T. Sherman
