PAYNESVILLE CITY, MONTSERRADO COUNTY, LIBERIA-The Country Director of WaterAid, Chuchu Selma, has stressed the need for quality education and integrity in Liberia’s Education Sector.
Mr. Selma described education as fundamentally important for both individuals and society.
He said,” Gaining quality education empowers individuals with knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities, enabling them to pursue better opportunities, participate actively in their communities, and contribute to economic growth.”
Mr. Selma commented Saturday, July 12, 2025, at the graduation ceremony of some twenty kindergarten students of the ‘Build Liberia Education Foundation (BLEF)’, located in the Cook Spoon Hill Community on the Pipeline Road in Paynesville.
The WaterAid Country Director told students, parents, and others in the audience that education fosters personal development, promotes social equality, and helps societies adapt to change and address challenges.
Mr. Selma highlighted challenges the country faces, with low adult literacy rates and completion rates in primary and secondary education, adding that addressing issues like over-aged enrollment and limited data on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) should be a priority for education authorities.
He also emphasized the crucial need to ensure adequate support and resources for teachers to improve the quality of education and reduce teacher attrition.
According to Mr. Selma, strengthening community engagement and fostering collaboration between schools and communities are vital for creating a supportive learning environment.
The ‘Build Liberia Education Foundation (BLEF)’ was established on November 15, 2018, as a non-profit and non-governmental organization to aid underprivileged children, persons with disabilities, and elderly folks, and also advocate for free and compulsory education for all.
The institution was founded by Timothy Kpeh, a young and innovative advocate, in consultation with some like-minded individuals to promote the dream and aspiration to help the underprivileged go to school and acquire quality education, to become future leaders, and to sustain their livelihood for generations to come.
The school runs at a junior high level and currently has more than 300 students.
BLEF is on a mission to develop and promote future leaders by providing access to quality education and resources to underprivileged children and adults from marginalized communities, thereby improving the well-being of all Liberians, including persons with disabilities, and restoring hope for all.
‘Build Liberia Education Foundation’, through a clear vision, seeks to create and promote a transparent environment where future leaders will be inspired by lifelong learning and make ethical and moral choices over their lifetime.
Through the joint efforts of Liberians and others all over the world, we endeavor to strengthen communities, enhance the quality of education, and create a sanitary environment.