MARGIBI COUNTY, Liberia — A newly established educational institution, Royal Kings and Queens International Academy, has marked the close of its vacation programme with an impressive ceremony at Disco Hill in Lower Margibi County, showcasing the talents and lessons learned by children ahead of the school’s first academic year.
By Patience M. Jones,[email protected]
The closing ceremony brought together parents, guardians, staff, special guests and community members, while students from nursery through elementary levels demonstrated what they had learned during the vacation programme.
From recitations and presentations to other performances, the children took center stage in what many attendees described as an exciting and memorable display of young talent.
The event also placed a strong spotlight on the importance of education and the role schools play in shaping the future of children and communities
“Among These Children Is a Future Leader”
Delivering a keynote message, educationist and owner of Glory Land Private School, John Alento Kaska, encouraged parents and educators to recognize the potential in every child.
Kaska said the children being trained today could become some of tomorrow’s most influential leaders, innovators, and professionals.
“Among us here, there is one Elon Musk sitting right here. Jeff Bezos. There is somebody remarkable sitting here that you don’t know,” Kaska stated, urging parents and teachers to take seriously the responsibility of nurturing young minds.
He described education as a powerful tool for transformation and development.
“Education is the most powerful equalizer in the world. It has the ability to level the ground between background and destiny, turning potential into possibility and possibility into achievement,” he intimated.
According to Kaska, education can help move individuals from poverty to prosperity, from mediocrity to excellence, from dependence to independence, and from hopelessness to opportunity.
From Poverty to Purpose
Sharing his personal story, Kaska told the audience that he was born into poverty in Biawale, Lower Nimba County and experienced serious hardship during his childhood.
He recalled the struggles his family faced and how difficult it was for his mother to provide food for her children.
Kaska pointed out that his family’s difficult circumstances did not determine where his life would eventually lead.
Through education, determination, faith, and hard work, he pursued academic opportunities in Liberia, Nigeria, and later the United States.
His educational journey took him from being a classroom teacher to becoming a school administrator, where he said he was able to influence thousands of students.
Kaska said he pursued further education because he wanted to expand his ability to make a greater impact.
“Education gives a child something that poverty cannot easily take away,” he said. “It gives a child knowledge, skills, confidence, and the ability to dream beyond present circumstances.”
Now pursuing his doctorate, Kaska said he remains committed to education because of its power to transform lives and communities.
Education as a Ladder
In his message to young people, Kaska urged them not to allow their present difficulties to define their future.
“You may come from poverty, but poverty does not have to remain your destination,” he uttered.
“You may have experienced failure, but failure does not have to become your identity.”
He encouraged young people to use education as a ladder toward a better future.
“Let knowledge become your foundation. Let discipline become your companion. Let perseverance become your strength, and let excellence become your destination,” he said.
Kaska also reminded those who succeed through education not to forget others behind them.
“Once you climb the ladder of success, do not pull the ladder up behind you. Reach back and help someone else climb,” he said.
He stressed that the true value of an educated life is not only measured by personal success but also by how many other people benefit from that success.
A New School for the Community
Meanwhile, the Registrar of Royal Kings and Queens International Academy, Abraham Whinleegkoe, said the institution is preparing to officially begin its first academic year.
According to him, registration is ongoing, while the school is expected to officially open on September 7.
The academy will provide education from daycare through sixth grade.
Whinleegkoe said the community has warmly welcomed the establishment of the school because it will provide easier access to education for children living in and around Disco Hill.
He noted that the presence of the school in the community will reduce the need for some children to travel long distances or cross dangerous roads to attend school.
“The community people are pleased to have the school open because it will be a great help to them,” he said.
Beyond the Classroom
The school says it intends to provide more than traditional classroom instruction.
According to the administration, Royal Kings and Queens International Academy plans to introduce extracurricular and practical learning opportunities aimed at helping children develop a wide range of skills.
Whinleegkoe said the academy intends to incorporate activities and practical subjects, including home economics and skills-based learning.
The school also plans to provide support in areas such as learning materials and other services intended to ease some of the burdens on parents.
“Our school will be the best choice for children because we will be providing extracurricular activities and other opportunities that will help in their development,” Whinleegkoe said.
The institution is backed by a group of Liberian founders and educators committed to expanding educational opportunities in the community.
Investing in the Future
As the school prepares for its first academic year, the vacation programme offered parents and community members an early glimpse of what the institution hopes to achieve.
The performances by the children were not only entertainment but also a reflection of the confidence, creativity, and skills that educators hope to build in young learners.
For Kaska, investing in children through education remains one of the most important investments any society can make.
“When we educate one person, we may be planting a seed whose harvest will be enjoyed by generations we will never meet,” he said.
With registration ongoing and its first academic year approaching, Royal Kings and Queens International Academy is positioning itself as a new educational option for families in Disco Hill and surrounding communities.
As the children performed before proud parents and guests at the closing ceremony, one message remained clear: the future of Liberia is already sitting in today’s classrooms and how well those young minds are trained may determine the nation’s tomorrow.
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