The College of Liberia (UL), one in every of West Africa’s oldest establishments of upper studying, is present process turbulent adjustments as its high administration proceeds with a large-scale retirement plan for college and proposes a considerable finances for campus renovations.
By Lincoln G. Peters
Monrovia, September 5, 2025: The college president, Prof. Dr. Layli Maparyan, confirmed the New Daybreak Newspaper Investigation to the Liberian Senate Committee on Schooling about retirement plans for lecturers and professors throughout an look on Thursday, September 4.
She stated the transfer is meant to scale back monetary price and save assets, whereas proposing a whopping US$41 million for satisfactory and common renovation of the College of Liberia.
The retirement initiative, she defined, goals to align with Liberian legislation, which mandates retirement at age 60; nonetheless, she famous that academia usually permits skilled people to proceed instructing past this statutory age.
Dr. Maparyan elaborated, “We’ll implement reductions by retiring those that have reached the age restrict, because the retirement age in Liberia is 60. Nevertheless, in academia, people can proceed to show past this age. We can even take away ghost names.” This transfer is offered by the administration as a vital step, not just for compliance but in addition as a measure for cost-saving and useful resource optimization.
She appeared alongside Schooling Minister Dr. Jarso M. Jallah, and Dr. Augustine Stevens, Appearing Superintendent of the Monrovia Consolidated College System (MCSS), to deal with points affecting the schooling sector.
Among the many committee’s issues are coverage priorities for fundamental and secondary schooling, the welfare of native and worldwide college students, grievances raised by the College of Liberia School Affiliation, and measures to reinforce studying outcomes, instructor coaching, and accountability.
Senator McGill has requested complete administrative and educational plans from every official for the present finances yr, implying elevated scrutiny on how the college manages each its human and monetary assets.
Their look got here on the heels of an invite from the Senate Committee on Schooling, chaired by Margibi County Senator Nathaniel McGill, dated September 3.
In the meantime, commenting on the deplorable situation of the College, Dr. Maparyan disclosed that the College will want roughly US$3.9 million for complete renovation. She stated the quantity was included within the US41 million finances offered to the Legislature, however that they obtained solely US33 million, 90 % of which is for salaries.
“It would price $3.9 million to renovate the College of Liberia, and an extra $300,000 is required for lavatory renovations. We requested a finances of $41 million, however we solely obtained $33 million. Nevertheless, 90% of the $33 million has been allotted for salaries.
On Thursday, September 4, 2025, this paper reported that a minimum of over 200 and three (203) college members of the College of Liberia, together with former Central Financial institution Governor, Dr. Mills Jones, and Ex-executive director of the Environmental Safety Company, Professor Wilson Tarpeh, have been allegedly really useful for retirement to save lots of prices on the College.
A purported record obtained by The NEW DAWN, containing names of employees to be affected, below the caption, College of Liberia School and Workers itemizing as of June 2025, signifies that the cost-saving measure is allegedly being proposed by the Interim Vice President for Finance and Fiscal Affairs, Dr. Lester Tenny, pending approval of UL President, Dr. Ophelia Maparyan. The record accommodates names of lecturers and professors, their dates of employment, dates of start, gender, and present ages.
Nevertheless, whereas the administration claims retirement is a monetary necessity, critics have accused Dr. Maparyan of ulterior motives. Allegations have surfaced that almost 50 people, beforehand redundant and by USAID, have been “imported” into the College of Liberia’s college, receiving educational ranks starting from Assistant Professor to Affiliate Professor.
It’s alleged that to accommodate these new appointees, Dr. Maparyan has directed Dr. Lester Tenny, Interim Vice President for Finance and Fiscal Affairs, to advocate for the untimely retirement of chosen college, together with some who aren’t but at retirement age.
These most notable on the retirement record embrace Dr. J. Mills Jones, Prof. S. Morris Cooper, and Prof. Wilson Tarpeh, amongst others.
Critics argue that these people signify many years of institutional data, skilled competence, and dedication to the College’s development, contending that their compelled retirement can be a direct blow to educational freedom, institutional reminiscence, and the standard of schooling on the UL.
“The intent behind this scheme is to weaken impartial voices throughout the college ranks, accommodate loyalists who owe their positions to Dr. Maparyan’s patronage. Additionally, that is meant to erode the integrity and autonomy of the College of Liberia as a public educational establishment. Lastly, if this agenda succeeds, the College dangers changing into an establishment run by favoritism somewhat than advantage, undermining its credibility nationally and internationally.” They famous.
In the meantime, chatting with this paper on situation of anonymity, one of many potential victims of the pending train, stated the latest developments on the College of Liberia reveal a troubling scheme by the present administration below Dr. Ophelia Maparyan.
In keeping with him, a listing of lively, certified, and skilled college members is being quietly ready for untimely retirement.
The transfer seems much less about educational reform and extra about creating house for brand spanking new appointees whose loyalty shall be directed to Dr. Maparyan personally, somewhat than to the College as an establishment. Such actions set a harmful precedent for political patronage and the private consolidation of energy inside an educational surroundings.
Nevertheless, after a sequence of calls and textual content messages, Cllr. Noris Tweah, Vice President for College Relations, stated he was on a tennis courtroom and had ended his working hours; due to this fact, he couldn’t communicate to the matter.
“Lincoln, it’s after working hours, and I’m on the tennis courtroom proper now. I’m telling you that I’m on the tennis courtroom proper now, and it’s after working hours. The College is just paying me for the hours I work. I had a protracted day right this moment. I’m on the tennis courtroom taking part in sport, so I can’t speak now “, Cllr. Tweah stated.
Additionally, on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, this paper once more contacted Cllr. Tweah for follow-up through direct calls and textual content messages, however he declined to remark. -Edited by Othello B. Garblah.
