The Real Truth About Mass Entrance Exam Failure in Liberia

By Jackie Sayegh. There are those who have wondered about the intelligence of the young people taking the exam. But today's young Liberians are just as bright as any of us who attended schools in Liberia before the war. That has not changed. Many of us have been able to succeed in high education because of a solid foundation from Liberian schools. I always maintain that I may have a higher degree from abroad but I was educated in Liberia. Articles and people touting our president as a Harvard graduate do a disservice to the Liberian school system. True, Madame President earned a Harvard degree, but her achievements were made possible because of the strong educational foundation she received in the elementary and high schools of Liberia. What has changed since then are the conditions among which these young people learn. Growing up we had books, electricity, and most of the time, went to school well fed. These days just getting to class in Liberia is an exercise in endurance and patience. More...