Monrovia – Ex-Education Minister George Werner under whose administration More than Me (MTM) Academy received 18 public schools to operate under the Public Private Partnership of PPP has ignored questions about the serial rape scandal at a school run by the NGO.
Report by Bettie K. Johnson-Mbayo, [email protected]
FrontPage Africa contacted Werner on several occasions via social media but he apparently ignored the inquest.
On Oct 11, 14 and 16 inquiry was sought through Facebook messenger and on Oct 13 but another inquiry was placed to him through popular messenger app WhatsApp.
Werner did not respond but signal on both networks showed that the messages were read.
According to MTM website, after the Ebola outbreak the NGO realized that unless Liberia is stable, girls will never have access to the secure and promising future they deserve.
Said MTM on their website after the Ebola outbreak: “We asked the Ministry of Education (MoE) how we could help, and, because of our promising evidence of impact and our results-focused mindset at the More Than Me Academy (MTMA), Minister George Werner asked us to work jointly with the MoE to address the country’s challenges head-on.”
Liberia Education Advancement Program (LEAP) is a pilot program run by the Ministry of Education and selected non-state school operators. PSL has one overriding mission: to provide every child, regardless of family background or income, access to high-quality education.
The program works collaboratively with successful operators to create great schools that are hubs of innovation and educational excellence – with the ultimate aim of rolling out what works across the wider system.
MTM was granted the partnership to run the school the year Mcintosh Johnson, the co-founder of MTM who was accused of raping several students died in prison in 2016 while awaiting trial.
MTM joined LEAP by taking over 6 schools in year 1 and an additional 12 in year 2. Today, the NGO operates 18 public schools with a target of 500 public schools, which it intends to reach 125,000 children daily by 2021.
“In Liberia our challenge to fix education is gigantic. PSL (now known as LEAP) offers us an unprecedented opportunity to confront and fix as many broken pieces as we possibly can in a cost-effective way. It’s been a hard fight for many. It’s made our achievement so far, all the more worthwhile. We are guided by the experience and wisdom of many.” – Former Minister of Education George Werner statement currently on the MTM website.
Meyler in a 2017 video commended her donors for the sponsorship adding that she wants extra 10 more schools in the program.
The schools include Beatoe, Bogbeh, Bombomma, Beh Yomo, Edward Jimissah, Fofee Town, Golodee, Gborketa, Guyanta, Henry Town, Hill Town, Hilton, Duodee, Karnley Town, Lowoma, Moore Town, Njaboi, Weamawuo, and Zuo.
