MONROVIA — The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Liberia Chapter has announced plans to support 650 marginalized young women and men through its Mastercard Foundation Phase II Program, following an overwhelming response that saw 1,447 prospective beneficiaries apply for university and vocational training opportunities.
By: Christopher C Walker 0777898224/0886723075 [email protected]
Addressing journalists on Friday in Monrovia, FAWE Liberia Executive Director Millias Z. Sheriff highlighted the intense demand for educational assistance among Liberian youth facing financial and social barriers.
The initiative seeks to expand access to tertiary education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) through comprehensive bursary support across 10 targeted counties.
According to Sheriff, the recruitment drive attracted 816 applicants for university programs and 631 for TVET tracks. He explained that candidates were evaluated by designated National Recruitment Selection Committees against approved criteria, though meeting baseline requirements did not guarantee selection due to space constraints.
Young Women Lead Application Numbers
Women accounted for the majority of applicants, with 763 females (52.7 percent) applying compared to 673 males (46.5 percent), while 11 applicants did not disclose their gender.
Under the university stream, 474 females and 339 males applied, while the TVET stream attracted 289 females and 334 males.
The application pool also reflected strong participation from historically marginalized groups, including 28 persons with disabilities and 111 refugees or internally displaced persons.
Geographically, Montserrado County recorded the highest turnout with 508 applications, followed by Bong with 248 and Lofa with 196.
Significant numbers were also recorded in Grand Bassa (106), Margibi (88), and Nimba (85), with additional applications coming from across eight other counties.
Institutional Preferences and Selection Oversight
Among university applicants, Cuttington University emerged as the top preferred institution with 249 applicants, followed closely by Stella Maris Polytechnic University with 227. Other preferred choices included Grand Bassa University (62), Nimba University (52), the Lutheran University of Liberia’s Phebe-Esther Bacon College of Health Sciences (46), and Tubman University (20).
To ensure an equitable process, selection decisions were vetted by National Recruitment Selection Committees comprising representatives from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth and Sports, National Commission on Higher Education, partner universities, TVET institutes, and civil society groups.
With 1,447 applicants competing for 650 slots, nearly 800 candidates will not be accommodated in this initial cohort. Sheriff urged unselected youth not to give up on their educational goals, emphasizing that FAWE Liberia and the Mastercard Foundation remain dedicated to creating pathways toward skills development, employment, and national development.
Support Independent Journalism
Your support helps FrontPage Africa continue delivering independent, credible, and impactful journalism. Every contribution strengthens our ability to investigate, inform, and hold power accountable while keeping quality journalism accessible to our readers.
Support our journalism or subscribe to receive the latest FrontPage Africa stories and updates.
