# Liberian education reform and enrollment initiatives

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/liberian-education-reform-and-enrollment-initiatives
> Updated: 2026-09-27T08:54:34.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

Liberia is implementing initiatives to increase school enrollment and improve educational outcomes. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has committed to the ‘Back to My Classroom’ (BTMC) campaign, which seeks to return 250,000 out-of-school children to the classroom by 2029. This plan includes a target to enroll 80,000 children across seven priority counties by 2026, addressing barriers such as poverty, disability, and lack of documentation.

While the country has achieved near gender parity in enrollment, with girls representing approximately 50.3% of learners, high dropout rates persist. Nearly 42% of primary-school-aged girls do not complete sixth grade due to factors including early pregnancy, marriage, and domestic responsibilities. 

In response, the Ministry of Education is transitioning toward a strategy that emphasizes retention, protection, and health. A key element of this effort is the US$88.7 million Liberia EXCEL Project, supported by the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education, which aims to improve literacy and numeracy for approximately 350,000 learners across 2,337 public primary schools.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-27: Liberia achieves near gender parity in school enrollment despite high dropout rates

While girls have reached near parity in Liberian school enrollment, high dropout rates persist. The Ministry of Education is launching a US$88.7 million project to improve retention and completion.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/liberia-achieves-near-gender-parity-in-school-enrollment-despite-high-dropout-rates

### 2026-09-12: Liberia aims to return 250,000 children to classrooms by 2029

Liberian President Joseph Boakai has reaffirmed the ‘Back to My Classroom’ campaign, aiming to return 250,000 out-of-school children to the education system by 2029.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/liberia-aims-to-return-250000-children-to-classrooms-by-2029

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Cite as: Liberian education reform and enrollment initiatives. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/liberian-education-reform-and-enrollment-initiatives
