…Targeting Re-Enrollment of 2,500 Out-of-School Children Across Liberia
By Amos Harris
Grand Bassa County, Liberia – In a significant effort to bridge the widening educational gap and bring Liberia’s most marginalized children, particularly adolescent girls, back into the learning environment, the Government of Liberia, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other development partners, has officially launched the “Back to My Classroom” campaign.
Unveiled in Grand Bassa County, this campaign is a cornerstone of a five-year strategic plan that aims to re-enroll at least 2,500 out-of-school children as the new academic year commences. The initiative is a crucial step toward ensuring that vulnerable populations, including those impacted by poverty, harmful cultural practices, and gender inequality, are not left behind.
Speaking at the press conference, Mr. Gilles Fagninou, UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa, underscored the fundamental importance of education as a human right. “Every child in Liberia deserves access to quality education,” Mr. Fagninou stated. “This campaign is about restoring dignity, offering opportunity, and unlocking the full potential of Liberia’s future generation. Education is not a privilege; it is a right.”
The “Back to My Classroom” campaign aligns seamlessly with the Government of Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which prioritizes Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism. The campaign specifically targets entrenched systemic barriers that continue to undermine access to quality learning, especially for girls.
Mr. Fagninou highlighted the numerous challenges that persistently affect Liberia’s educational landscape, notably:
- Poverty and economic hardship, which often compel families to keep children, particularly girls, out of school.
- Harmful traditional practices, which frequently lead to early pregnancies, child marriage, and female genital mutilation (FGM).
“Girls are particularly at risk,” he emphasized. “Many drop out of school due to preventable social factors. We must work collectively to break these cycles.”
The “Back to My Classroom” campaign is being piloted in Grand Bassa and other regions identified as having the highest dropout rates among adolescent girls. Mr. Anty Brooks, UNICEF Country Representative to Liberia, detailed the campaign’s multi-dimensional strategy, which includes:
- The deployment of digital learning platforms.
- Reproductive health education.
- Life-skills training to promote sustained school attendance and retention.
“When girls stay in school, they are less likely to become child brides or victims of violence,” Mr. Brooks affirmed. “Education equips them with the tools to build healthier families and contribute meaningfully to society.”
He added that preliminary data already indicate an increase in school attendance among girls in areas where gender-sensitive programs and mentorship structures have been implemented. “Empowering girls through education is not just the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do,” Brooks concluded. “Investing in girls transforms households, communities, and entire nations.
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