The Government of Liberia Needs to Abolish Volunteer Teachers in Public Schools

Teaching is a Nobel Profession. It is an ART. In the Republic of Liberia, teachers are required to have teaching certificates at the C, B and A levels or above. This means that teachers can also be University or college graduates. For some years now, the Country has had problems/challenges with the issue of Volunteer Teachers. Volunteer Teachers? Why should anyone teach free of charge when they should be paid? Why are there Volunteer Teachers in the first Place? My understanding is that these are teachers that are teaching government schools and are not on the Government of Liberia Payroll. They are considered as Volunteer Teachers. There are no such volunteer teachers in private, or religious schools operating around the country because private school teachers are regularly paid monthly. Why are there Volunteer Teachers then? First, there are public schools that exist in communities and counties across the country. Some of those schools do not have trained or professional teachers.

Yet, those schools are operating and have students without professional teachers. Should the Government close them? No. The Liberian children in those communities deserve to go to school. So, citizens living in those towns either ask those who can read and write to teach the children in the towns or some teachers who died were not replaced by qualified ones to teach, but such teachers are not recognised by the Ministry of Education authorities. There could be other several ways that volunteer teachers came about. According to the Ministry of Education, there is a little over 6,000 volunteer teachers across the country mostly from Nimba, Bong, Margibi, Lofa, Bassa and Montserrado counties. Do we need to throw them all out? No. Incorporate the professional and qualified ones and let go the incompetent ones.

Congratulations to all those men and women that have volunteered over these years as teachers in our public schools. We thank them for their sacrifices to the Government and people of Liberia. We will forever remain grateful to them. However, we think it is time to say goodbye to that nomenclature, Volunteer Teachers, in our public schools. Why should all other workers in the public service be paid monthly when some of those that are training and teaching our children and preparing them for life are volunteering in some of our public schools? According to Haynes (2005) human resource is the most significant resource of any given country. It is the people who can do all the other things to keep the state running. So, if a country wants to run well, it must do well with its education system. An education that must do well for a country and its citizens should not be left in the hands of volunteer teachers. Why are our Representatives and Senators not volunteering? Why are those working with them not volunteering? Why are those working in the Executive and Judicial branches of the Government not volunteering?

There are private and religious schools operating in Liberia. There is a policy guiding them such that those working in those schools are required to be competent, qualified, and professional. If this is happening or not, the Ministry of Education ought to know and do the needful. It is the job of the Ministry of Education to ensure that this happens. That is one of the reasons why the Ministry of Education is desterilized from the Minister down to his/her deputies, assistants, County Education Officers (CEOs), District Education Officers (CEOs), the school principals, administrations, and Parents Teachers Associations (PTAs) across the country. Those working at the Ministry as Ministers work at the pleasure of the Head of State, President of the Republic, and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia. The Constitution gives him/her the right to fire those that he/she appoints in the Executive branch of Government at his or her pleasure. Therefore, they must do their best to fix and transform the education system in Liberia. That is their job. There are national and international partners to support Liberia in this endeavour.

AS I SEE IT, there is no shortage of competent, trained, and professional teachers in Liberia. Every year, public and private institutions of learning like universities and colleges or teacher training institutes are graduating students that are capable of teaching in our public schools. Have we thought about organising the new graduates, and getting them orientated to return to the counties and teach in the public schools there? The government should organise what I term as a National Service Program under which such graduates would be deployed in counties and districts in the schools that are short of qualified and professional teachers. Such National Service Program would be like the Peace Corps Program run by the United States of America. The Ministry could operate the program by providing a month-long orientation training for these young college graduates before placing them in the field. I would recommend that those National Service men and women be deployed for two academic years and compensated for their service during their time of service. Even the UN System in which I worked for more than a decade employs UN Volunteers, nationally and internationally. These volunteers are compensated. If there is any national service program presently, I think it should include the issue of solving the problem of Volunteer Teachers.

AS I SEE IT, through the orientation and deployment of the National Service Corps, they will build and gain experience around the country. The Ministry of Education could provide master’s degree scholarships locally or internationally for those completing the National Service Program at the end of their service over the two academic years. This could be an alternative route for those smart students that are incapable of funding their Education for master’s degree programs. The program should be competitive, robust, and meritorious. By operating such program, the government could gradually eradicate the Volunteer Teaching across the country and at the same time enhance the human capital of some smart Liberians that cannot personally enhance their capacities.

About the Author: Prof. Tom Kaydor, Jr. serves as an Assistant Professor at the IBB Graduate School of International Studies. He holds a PhD from the Department of Government and European Studies, the New University, Slovenia where he specialized in International Development and Diplomacy (with Security Aspects). His dissertation topic was ‘Reconceptualizing Africa’s Regional Integration for Peace and Sustainable Development.’ He earned a Master of Public Policy (MPP) specialized in Development Policy or Development Economics with Distinction from the Crawford School of Economics and Government (now the Crawford School of Public Policy), Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. He also obtained a Master of Arts (MA) in International Relations (Highest Distinction) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) Magna Cum Laude in Political Science from the University of Liberia where his Minor was History with Mass Communication as his Elective. Tom holds a Diploma in Leading Economic Growth from the Kennedy Graduate School, Harvard University, USA; and he holds other professional diplomas and certificates from Italy, UK, Pakistan, China, and Israel. Prof. Kaydor is also an Adjunct Professor of International Development Studies at the AME University Graduate School. Dr. Kaydor is an evidence-based researcher, a blogger, a columnist, and a published author. One can reach him via (kaydorth@ul.edu.lr or thkaydor@gmail.com).

 

The Government of Liberia Should Lead Diplomatic Efforts to Keep ECOWAS’ Unity

Sometime ago, the Republics of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso decided that they were preparing to withdraw from the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS). The three countries had experienced undemocratic transitions or transfers of power that ECOWAS is opposed to. The ECOWAS Member Sates imposed selected sanctions on those countries and took other actions to help the 3 West African countries return to democratic leadership by holding free, fair, and transparent elections. These countries have not returned to democratic governance as demanded by ECOWAS. They are all under military rule. Last weekend the ECOWAS Authority ended its 66th Summit in Abuja. ECOWAS officially received notification of the 3 countries’ decision to withdraw from ECOWAS. According to the President of ECOWAS, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have got up to 29th January-29th July 2025 to remain within the ambit of ECOWAS. These countries have reaffirmed their commitment to break away or withdraw from ECOWAS and form their own sub regional union, the Alliance of Sahel Sates.

Geopolitically, the Sahel comprises more than the 3 states of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. The three countries as sovereign states have their right to decide what happens to their countries and peoples in terms of remaining within ECOWAS. However, they need to act meticulously in the context of their National Interests. Let us make no mistake. States Must always protect their National Interests and that of their Peoples. National Interest means the Security of the Sate and the Wellbeing of its people. Hence, the 3 countries’ grievances need to be listened to, discussed, and diplomatically negotiated. This is why I welcome the suggestion of the Republic of Liberia articulated by H.E. Joseph Nyuma Boakai that ECOWAS should remove all sanctions against the 3 countries and increase diplomatic efforts in negotiating with them in the spirit of international Cooperation. No country is truly independent of others.  

The suggestion advanced by Liberia’s President at the just ended 66th Summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Governments is great, welcoming, and relevant. It is only through diplomacy that such intergovernmental negotiation can take place. Indeed, there is strength in Unity.  Regional Solidarity is required no matter what the issues are. There is a very strong connection between international cooperation and sustainable development (Kaydor, 2024). Through international cooperation processes, the ECOWAS region can ensure that mutually agreed outcomes (Ibid) are obtained in the ultimate interests of all member states. The practice of international cooperation either stalls or enhances the attainment of national, regional, and global public goods and amicable outcomes. Official Development Assistance (ODA) is one of the key components of international cooperation that remains a key pillar to the achievement of sustainable development in the mutually beneficial interest of stronger and weaker states.

International cooperation is the fulcrum for sustainable development (Kaydor, 2024). First, international cooperation impacts sustainable development because it is through cooperation that states can attain mutually beneficial outcomes to address both national, regional, and global challenges and problems. Without international cooperation, states will fail to singularly achieve their national interests. Simply put, all states are interdependent. Second, international cooperation has evolved over time moving beyond the traditional practice of bilateral and multilateral cooperation to now include global governance that involves trans governmental networks; transnational private governance; and transnational public-private partnership processes. These global networks are complex but help states and non-state actors to cooperate in attaining national, regional, and global development outcomes bordered on the security of states and the welling of their people. For instance, Liberia just documented citizens of Burkina Faso who have migrated to some counties in the South-Eastern Region. Regional solidarity is needed to support each other citizens and this is what Liberia is doing. 

AS I SEE IT, there is a need to improve regional international cooperation in ECOWAS by enhancing diplomacy and negotiations to ensure that states and non-state actors further commit and fulfill the principles of global partnership. Liberia is a brainchild of ECOWAS formation. The country also benefitted from the support and assistance of ECOWAS during the Liberian Civil War. ECOMOG came to Liberia and some soldiers of Weast African States died in Liberia during our civil war. These are terrible times for Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. The 3 countries need to advance economic growth and build strong institutions for sustainable development as required under SDG16 on the one hand, while they need to take concrete steps to radically end extreme poverty and pursue the path to sustainable development so their citizens can enjoy the befits of their respective countries, on the other. This can only happen when peace and stability are in place. This is where ECOWAS comes in. The Regional body needs to increase its diplomatic overtures to ensure peace, security, harmony, and National Unity in the region mainly in the countries affected by crises.  Liberia as the lead founder of ECOWAS therefore needs to lead the diplomatic efforts. To help to keep ECOWAS united as a bloc, the Government of Liberia Should Lead Diplomatic Efforts to Keep ECOWAS States together.

About the Author: Prof. Tom Kaydor, Jr. serves as an Assistant Professor at the IBB Graduate School of International Studies. He holds a PhD from the Department of Government and European Studies, the New University, Slovenia where he specialized in International Development and Diplomacy (with Security Aspects). His dissertation topic was ‘Reconceptualizing Africa’s Regional Integration for Peace and Sustainable Development.’ He earned a Master of Public Policy (MPP) specialized in Development Policy or Development Economics with Distinction from the Crawford School of Economics and Government (now the Crawford School of Public Policy), Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. He also obtained a Master of Arts (MA) in International Relations (Highest Distinction) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) Magna Cum Laude in Political Science from the University of Liberia where his Minor was History with Masscom as is his Elective. Tom holds a Diploma in Leading Economic Growth from the Kennedy Graduate School, Harvard University, USA; and he holds other diplomas and certificates in professional fields from Italy, UK, Pakistan, China, and Israel. Prof. Kaydor is also an Adjunct Professor of International Development Studies at the AME University Graduate School. Dr. Kaydor is an evidence-based researcher, a blogger, a columnist, and a published author. One can reach him via (kaydorth@ul.edu.lr or thkaydor@gmail.com). 

 

The Liberian Government Should Sustainably Manage its Debt Going Forward

Around 2010, the Global Community waived about 4b USD debt for the Republic of Liberia. That was a promise fulfilled in lieu of the Government’s commitment to meeting the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries benchmark. The IMF and World Bank launched the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative in 1996 to ensure that no poor country faces an unmanageable debt burden. In 2005, to accelerate progress toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the HIPC Initiative was supplemented by the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative. By the end of 2023, the Liberian Government had again recorded a total debt of about 2.6b USD. This constitutes both foreign and domestic debt for the Government and People of Liberia. The President Boakai’s Government which came to power in January 2024 recently completed its National Development Plan, the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID). We are informed that the five-year AAID is costed at about 8.4b USD and will officially be launched in January 2025. This means that the Government needs to cut down on wasteful spending, drastically crack down on corruption and invest in diversified economic growth corridors to grow the economy so that the resources are availed to fund the AAID.

All these need to happen as the global community encounters and addresses global extreme poverty and pandemics like Mpox, etc. Global poverty has reduced because of the growth achievements made by India and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). However, extreme poverty persists in Africa where this researcher hails from. In Africa, poverty is a widespread phenomenon, with about a third of the continent's population living in extreme poverty. The World Bank predicts that Sub-Saharan Africa will be home to the majority of the world's poor by 2030. Liberia is Africa’s first independent Republic and therefore needs to lead by example. The COVID-19 pandemic deepened poverty across all countries and regions. However, the global economy is predicted to grow. Africa now faces yet another pandemic, the Mpox that seems to be under control. Official Development Assistance (ODA) is significantly helping Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to cope with growing development demands from citizens.

ODA impacts extreme poverty in numerous ways, although empirical evidence is required to claim causality. However, the fundamental question is not whether ODA works, but rather how can it be made more effective and efficient? Without peace and stability, fragile states, including the Republic of Liberia, cannot grow their economies to embark on sustainable development. Stability cannot be guaranteed amidst widespread poverty. Pandemics add even more worries to poverty situations when they occur. The extreme poor really suffer the most during pandemics. Therefore, pandemics, instability, fragility, and poverty seem to be positively correlated and they are symbiotic. Hence, they need to be addressed urgently and expeditiously as a global public good. Thankfully, global attention concertedly focused on an end to COVID-19 and the most recent Mpox pandemic so that states can return to a linear development trajectory.

Why I contend that advanced economies need to forgive poor countries’ debts because some of the debts have made no quantum impact on national, regional, or global development, I urge the Government of Liberia and other developing countries to sustainably mange the countries’ debt. In some instances, political elites benefit from donors’ monies more than the poor people themselves. Hence, developed States that provide ODA need to be smart in effectively providing aid. They need to increase their share of ODA to assist LDCs and Middle-Income Countries (MICs) to achieve strategic pro-poor and inclusive growth to help alleviate extreme poverty and engage in wealth creation.

AS I SEE IT, the provision of development assistance does not mean that developing states like Liberia must singularly rely on Official Development Assistance. They need to become innovative to grow their own economies and remain accountable and or transparent in handling development assistance. In some instances, donors need to deploy their citizens or nationals and companies in poor states to implement infrastructural development projects and to address economic growth challenges in receiving states so that the assistance does not easily get corrupted. China and Japan have done this before in Liberia where China built the Ministerial complex directly, and Japan constructed the Japanese Freeway directly using their companies. ODA receiving countries like Liberia need to supervise the projects and program implementation processes by those foreign individuals and companies to mutually prevent corruption.

AS I SEE IT and in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, institutions are deep determinants of growth. Therefore, to alleviate poverty, developing states including Liberia need to build inclusive and effective institutions that will protect the rule of law, property rights, ensure macroeconomic stability, as well as provide public goods and services, and invest in health, education, food security, peace, electricity and engage in infrastructural development to achieve sustainable growth. Both donors and recipients need to target development assistance towards economic growth corridors to help enhance and ignite economic growth. This might better serve the needs of the most excluded and vulnerable. The Government of Liberia should therefore sustainably manage the country's debt portfolio.

About the Author: Prof. Tom Kaydor, Jr. serves as an Assistant Professor at the IBB Graduate School of International Studies. He holds a PhD from the Department of Government and European Studies, the New University, Slovenia where he specialized in International Development and Diplomacy (with Security Aspects). His dissertation topic was ‘Reconceptualizing Africa’s Regional Integration for Peace and Sustainable Development.’ He earned a Master of Public Policy (MPP) specialized in Development Policy or Development Economics with Distinction from the Crawford School of Economics and Government (now the Crawford School of Public Policy), Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. He also obtained a Master of Arts (MA) in International Relations (Highest Distinction) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) Magna Cum Laude in Political Science from the University of Liberia where his Minor was History with Masscom as is his Elective. Tom holds a Diploma in Leading Economic Growth from the Kennedy Graduate School, Harvard University, USA; and he holds other diplomas and certificates in professional fields from Italy, UK, Pakistan, China, and Israel. Prof. Kaydor is also an Adjunct Professor of International Development Studies at the AME University Graduate School. Dr. Kaydor is an evidence-based researcher, a blogger, a columnist, and a published author. One can reach him via (kaydorth@ul.edu.lr or thkaydor@gmail.com).

 

The Liberian National Legislature Should Legislate a National Holiday for all Presidents’ birthdays

The Republic of Liberia is 177 years old now. The country historically has had 26 presidents. I think it should be 27 Presidents because the present 26 excludes Hon. James Smith who served as Vice President to E. J. Roye whose death the history of Liberia is controversial about. Hon. James Smith is said to have served a “truncated term” as Acting President after the controversial death of Edwin James Roye (the issue is being researched and discussed in my upcoming peer-reviewed “Liberia’s Presidential/political History”). I have observed that Liberians individually like or love some presidents and dislike or hate others. As a Political Scientist, I understand that this is normal/usual about human beings. We all either hate/oppose or like/love certain people wrongfully or rightfully. This is about our feelings. For whatever we think and will think about all our former, current, and future National Presidents, I hold the view that we should celebrate whatever gains they have made and will make for Liberia. Imagine that Liberia has had the first female elected President in Africa. She is former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Imagine also, Liberia has had the singular African winner of the Ballon d'Or as the Country’s President. He is former President George Manneh Weah. Don’t we need to celebrate their birthdays too? Let us celebrate all our National Leaders for their service to the Republic of Liberia.

 

November 29^th was celebrated once again as former President William V.S Tubman’s 129th birth anniversary. Just after that, November 30^th, 2024, was the 80^th birth anniversary of H.E. Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s birthday anniversary also. President Boakai’s birthday was quietly celebrated not only because it is not a national holiday, but also due to the demise of former Senator Prince Y. Johnon from Nimba County, and the death of Hon. John Gray, former Vice President from Grand Cape Mount who served under President Moses Z. Blah from Nimba. President Boakai’s birth anniversary also coincided with the resumption of the direct flight of Ethiopian Airlines to the Republic of Liberia’s Roberts International Airport (RIA). Senator Johnson and Nimba County played a pivotal role in the election of President Boakai. Thank God the Hon. Jeremiah Kpan Koon, Liberia’s current Vice President, was politically groomed by the late Senator Johnson. Historically, President Blah served a shorter Presidential Term in recent times just as former Vice President Hon. James Smith. This could be one of the reasons Hon. James Smith should have been listed as a former President (to be discussed later in full).

 

While I was drafting this opinion on President Tubman’s birth anniversary, a presenter on the ELBC morning show (name withheld) said that “ President Tubman was a Grebo man.” I was shocked by the open declaration on the state radio because this was a historic falsehood. I needed to promptly make the correction. Therefore, I posted on Facebook saying “Happy November 29^th. I just listened to a presenter on ELBC who said President Tubman was a Grebo man. That is historically wrong because Tubman was not a Grebo Man.” Surprisingly, the post attracted a lot of reactions. Some of the reactors displayed a deep-seated ignorance about Tubman’s tribal origin showing an adequate lack of knowledge about the History of Identity in Liberia. Even some of my colleagues, that I expected to be aware of this historical piece of information came arguing about Tubman’s tribal lineage. What puzzled me most was not the argument and counter argument, but that some people I expected to know this did not know. I am therefore made to believe that the scholars in the Liberia academic space need to do more research and published peer-reviewed historical texts about Liberia’s history. This History of Liberia needs to be written and rewritten always. It is possible that the current generation of Liberia has some information gap about the political history of the country. If that is the case just as this President’s issue has unearthed, Then future generations stand to equally get misinformed about several historical facts on Liberia. Hence, there is a need to vigorously teach Liberian History and Civics with the Constitution in all our schools.

Briefly about former President Tubman, he was born in Maryland County, but that does not make him a Grebo man. Any of the tribes could be born anywhere, but our law says you come from your father’s lineage. Tubman’s parents migrated from the United States of America. They were part of the founders of a free slave enclave called Maryland in Africa. There were series of tribal wars between the Americo Liberian settlers and the Grebo people over land acquisition and territorial expansion (to be fully discussed another time). So, President Tubman was a descendent of the settlers in Maryland. He was an Americo Liberian, not a Grebo man like me as other people think and believe. Historically, there has been no Grebo man who became President of Liberia. I was born in Harrisburg where my mother hails from, but my father originated from Maryland then. He was a Grebo man. So, I am a Grebo man today. Presently, my hometown falls in Grand Kru County. Interestingly though, some people think that I am a Kru man simply because my County is called Grand Kru. However, people need to know that the Grebo people are the majority in Grand Kru County. I am not a tribalist, but I strongly believe that Liberia’s History should be rightfully written and explained. The Truth remains my guidepost.

AS I SEE IT, and as it is, Liberia only celebrates the birth anniversaries of two of its former presidents as National Holidays. Liberia nationally celebrates the birth anniversary of former President Joseph Jekins Roberts, first President of the Republic, and that of former  President William V.S Tubman, the 18^th President of the Republic. Should we not celebrate the birthdays of the rest? All other Presidents’ birth anniversaries are not legislated as National Holidays. Do we need to make all their birth anniversaries National Holidays? No! I do not think so. If we did so, we would have about a whole month for former Presidents’ birth anniversaries as National holidays. Did all former Presidents of Liberia do something that the country should celebrate? Yes! I think all of them have done and will do good things. I therefore think and strongly recommend to the National Legislature to kindly legislate a single National Holiday to celebrate all our presidents up to now and in the future. This is why I am recommending the legislation of what I prefer to be called a “National Presidents’ Day.” If this were legislated, no president’s birth anniversary would be left out now and in the future.

 

About the Author: Prof. Tom Kaydor, Jr. serves as an Assistant Professor at the IBB Graduate School of International Studies. He holds a PhD from the Department of Government and European Studies, the New University, Slovenia where he specialized in International Development and Diplomacy (with Security Aspects). His dissertation topic was ‘Reconceptualizing Africa’s Regional Integration for Peace and Sustainable Development’. He earned a Master of Public Policy (MPP) specialized in Development Policy or Development Economics with Distinction from the Crawford School of Economics and Government (now the Crawford School of Public Policy), Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. He also obtained a Master of Arts (MA) in International Relations (Highest Distinction) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) Magna Cum Laude in Political Science from the University of Liberia where his Minor was History with Masscom as is his Elective. Tom holds a Diploma in Leading Economic Growth from the Kennedy Graduate School, Harvard University, USA; and he holds other diplomas and certificates in professional fields from Italy, UK, Pakistan, China, and Israel. Prof. Kaydor is also an Adjunct Professor of International Development Studies at the AME University Graduate School. Dr. Kaydor is an evidence-based researcher, a blogger, a columnist, and a published author. One can reach him via (kaydorth@ul.edu.lr or thkaydor@gmail.com).