IPNEW: The Government of Liberia is poised to make one of its largest recent investments in public education, with Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan announcing a 60 percent increase in the 2026 draft budget allotment for the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS).
The announcement was made Friday during the 9th Graduation Exercises of Boatswain Junior & Senior High School, where the minister delivered a keynote address emphasizing the administration’s commitment to structural improvements and the wellbeing of students and teachers.
According to Minister Ngafuan, the increased allocation will directly target long-standing infrastructure challenges across MCSS schools.
“One of the main drivers of that increase is a U$2 million allocation for renovation and refurbishing,” he told attendees. “We have also provided funds to incorporate volunteer teachers into the MCSS system.”
He assured the school community that the additional money would be used responsibly, noting that the Finance Ministry will work closely with MCSS leaders to ensure “value for money” and “integrity in the construction process.”
Minister Ngafuan emphasized that the government’s commitment to education will continue to grow year after year.
“This year is better than last year. Next year will be better than this year, and the year after will be better than next year,” he said. “We will not reverse. We are on the path of progress, and we will not take back steps.”
The minister described the increased education funding as part of a broader national commitment to development.
“This country deserves development,” he declared. “And I can assure you, as a son of this soil, that God loves Liberia. From what I see, and from the sweat that we are sweating, Liberia is moving forward.”
The graduation ceremony brought together MCSS leadership, educators, parents, and community members who praised the government’s renewed focus on improving public schools. Boatswain Senior High School Principal, Mr. Deeds. G. Peabody welcomed the news, calling the announcement a timely boost for a system that has long faced resource constraints.
The Class of 2025 has ended their academic journey with cheers from family and friends, encouraged by a message of progress and renewed investment in the educational future of Liberia’s youth.
