Photos: Executive Mansion.
Monrovia, Liberia: The government of Liberia (GoL) on July 23, 2025 launched the “Excellence in Learning in Liberia” (EXCEL), Project– a $88.7 Million United States Dollar Investment to transform foundational education across the Country.
The EXCEL Project, is a transformative national initiative aimed at improving foundational literacy and numeracy across all public early childhood and primary schools in Liberia.
It is financed through a US $60 million concessional credit from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank and a $28.7 million dollar grant from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).
“This is not just a project; it is a declaration of our commitment to the children of Liberia. The EXCEL Project is a key pillar in our ARREST Agenda and a direct response to the need for equitable, high-quality education for every Liberian child—especially in our public schools.” President Joseph Boakai says.
It is expected, that the EXCEL program will directly support 2,337 public early childhood and primary schools, with an estimated 362,000 students, teachers, and educational staff expected to benefit from its interventions nationwide.
Key highlights according to an Executive Mansion update include:
• 350,000 students in the final year of early childhood education and Grades 1–6 will receive improved teaching and learning materials in literacy and numeracy.
• 12,000 teachers and school principals will receive training in foundational learning, teacher mentoring, instructional leadership, school management, and use of education data.
• Approximately 14,000 school management committee (SMC) members, along with the Ministry of Education staffs at the county and central levels, will benefit from capacity-building support.
• About 48% of all direct project beneficiaries are expected to be female, aligning with national goals to promote gender equity in education.
Once ratified by the Legislature, the educational program will immediately rollout in all public schools across the nation.
“This is a national effort that touches every county, every classroom, and every child. Let us act with urgency to secure this investment for the future of our nation”, President Boakai concluded.
For her part, World Bank Country Manager, Madam Georgia Wallen lauded the effort of the Liberian government as well as the initiative — saying, it is “historic in ambition, scale, and urgency.”
“EXCEL is the largest education investment the World Bank has ever made in Liberia. It reaches every public early childhood and primary school and lays the foundation for real transformation in literacy, numeracy, inclusion, and school leadership.” She added.
She noted the project’s alignment with Liberia’s Vision 2030 and the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and the World Bank’s new Country Partnership Framework, which prioritizes human capital development.
“Liberia’s children deserve more and better. EXCEL is a down-payment on the kind of transformation that will unlock opportunity and restore dignity. We applaud the Government of Liberia and thank Dr. Jarso Marley Jallah for her strong leadership at the Ministry of Education,” the World Bank envoy said.
Remarking at the event, was Education Minister, Dr. Jarso Marley Jallah, who described the Project as “a game-changing intervention for public education.”
She’s quoted as saying, “EXCEL allows us to tackle Liberia’s learning crisis at its root by investing in classrooms, teachers, and communities. “It will strengthen the foundation on which the rest of the education system stands—early childhood and primary education.” She noted.
During the signing ceremony, Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine K. Ngafuan, signed on behalf of the Liberian government and Madam Georgia Wallen, signed on behalf of the World Bank.
