Montserrado – Senator Dallas Gueh, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Education is saying that it is the time that the Education Ministry cleans up the payroll so as to afford teachers better salary.
Report by Bettie K. Johnson-Mbayo, [email protected]
Sen. Gueh also stated that the Education Minister must not fail in the quest to clean the bloated payroll because names duplication is causing teachers to be underpaid.
He spoke Wednesday, June 6, at the launch of USAID Liberia Accountability and Voice Initiative’s (LAVI) and More 4 Education National Advocacy Team for Education
“This Minister must do something about that; why we can’t have one spreadsheet? Education has one spreadsheet, Civil Service Agency has one spreadsheet and Ministry of Finance has one spreadsheet.
“Who is controlling Education in this country? If it is cleaned up, the money that is saved will be used to augment the salaries of teachers in the system,” Sen. Gueh said.
According to him, the education system deteriorated since 1980 and government’s intervention drops also the same year.
“Look at the University of Liberia, the population is increasing but their budget is regularly cut, so how will the education system be improved?”
He continued: “What we been putting in education is what we are getting out and if the paradigm has to shift, we will have to take the radical approach.”
The Nimba County Senator, who bragged about his years of service as a teacher, told educators and partners that the continued lack of support to the education sector, will continually lead the country to increase rate of illiteracy that will pose danger to the few who are literates.
He committed his office to working with the Ministry of Education to bring reform to the sector.
USAID Mission Director, Dr. Anthony S. Chan, said USAID recognizes the government for leadership in support of the education sector.
“Today’s event and the recent Education Summit in Kakata are clear examples of how this new government is committed to listening to its citizens in crafting a stronger education system as part of its agenda for prosperity and development.”
He also encouraged the government to continue initiatives moving forward.
“I think it’s safe to say that every Liberian recognizes the vital role education plays in developing the nation, its importance in promoting wealth and prosperity, and its catalyzing effects on unifying people of different tribal affiliations, religion, nationality, and political standpoints. People are at the heart of development and education is the key to unlocking its potential,” he stressed.
He said through the USAID Liberia Accountability and Voice Initiative, USAID is working with the government to improve the citizen-government relationship by supporting coalitions, such as the More 4 Education National Advocacy Team for Education, to promote the voice of common citizen and influence policies, which touches their everyday lives.
“One way to demonstrate support for the voice of the people is to allocate national resources in alignment with priorities. While the Legislature has set aside nearly 15 percent of the total [budget] for education in its annual 2018/2019 budget, representing a small increase from 2017/2018, this is still not meeting the Global Partnership for Education recognized standard best practice of 20 percent.”
According to the World Bank, Guinea allocates an estimated 20 percent while Sierra Leone and Cote d’Ivoire set aside nearly 22 percent each – significantly more than Liberia.
Dr. Chan furthered that simply raising the share of education in the national budget is an easy first step; adding: “At least at a first glance.”
The USAID Mission Director said there is an opportunity to think holistically and develop a long-term plan that could be achieved with short and medium goals to serve as checkpoints to the ultimate objective, an education system worthy of the aspiration of the Liberian people.
“It will not come without hard work and it may mean going against vested interest; it will mean change. It will demand political will.
“The only sustainable way to get the increased resources that a vibrant education system deserves is to grow the economy and to reduce the revenue leakages,” Dr. Chan also added.
He asked for the commitment and a plan which many donors like USAID with resources and expertise are willing to help develop.
He urged all partners to work closely together to find a positive and productive path forward to ensure that one of the central priorities of the Liberian people, namely the education of its people, is addressed.