Liberia Launches US$88.7 Million EXCEL Education Project

Monrovia, Liberia: The Government of Liberia has officially launched the US$88.7 million Excellence in Learning in Liberia (EXCEL) Project, a five-year national education reform program aimed at reducing learning poverty and strengthening basic reading and numeracy skills in early grades.

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. launched the project at a ceremony held at the Monrovia City Hall, describing EXCEL as a major national investment in quality education and the future of Liberia’s children.

“For Liberia to develop sustainably, we must get education right,” President Boakai said. “If we fail our children in the classroom, we risk failing the nation tomorrow.”

The EXCEL Project is financed through a US$60 million International Development Association (IDA) credit and a US$28.7 million grant, jointly supported by the Government of Liberia, the World Bank, and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). The World Bank Board approved the project on June 10, 2025, and financing agreements were signed on July 8, 2025. The IDA credit was ratified by the Legislature on November 27, 2025, and approved by the President on December 10, 2025.

Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan said the government is committed to disciplined financing and timely implementation, stressing that meeting Liberia’s counterpart funding obligations is essential to avoid delays that have affected past development projects.

Education Minister Dr. Jarso Jallah said the project represents a shift from focusing only on school enrollment to measuring what children actually learn.

Education Minister Jarso Jallah 

“Access has outpaced mastery,” Dr. Jallah said, noting that many students progress through school without basic literacy and numeracy skills. She said EXCEL will prioritize teacher support, quality learning materials, improved supervision, and the use of learning data to drive results.

The project targets four key areas: expanding equitable access to primary education through the construction of 100 climate-resilient schools; implementing school capitation grants for renovation and performance-based incentives; rolling out school-based violence prevention programs; and strengthening education systems through improved data and national learning assessments.

EXCEL is expected to benefit more than 350,000 students and provide training and support for over 15,000 teachers across all 15 counties.

President Boakai called on the Legislature, educators, parents, and communities to take collective ownership of the project to ensure its success.

Project implementation runs from January 2025 to December 2030, with a disbursement deadline of April 30, 2031. Education authorities say learning outcomes will be closely monitored nationwide throughout the implementation period.