Because the College of Liberia advocates for extra funds, it has been disclosed right here that US$1 million allotted for main renovations disappeared into skinny air.
By Stephen G. Fellajuah
Monrovia, Liberia; September 5, 2025 – A US$1 million allocation supposed for vital renovations on the College of Liberia (UL) has gone lacking, UL Comptroller Togar Gibson revealed throughout a Senate Committee on Schooling public listening to on Thursday. Gibson instructed lawmakers that the establishment by no means acquired the funds allotted within the 2024 nationwide price range.
“In 2024, the Ministry of Finance utilized a price range line from the College of Liberia to pay adjunct professors, following a directive from President Boakai in the course of the investiture of Dr. Layli Maparyan,” Gibson stated.
Consequently, this fee has now turn out to be a monetary legal responsibility for the College.
The Senate inquiry, attended by officers from the Ministry of Schooling, the Monrovia Consolidated Faculty System, and the College of Liberia, delivered to gentle the deep monetary pressure affecting the nation’s flagship establishment.
UL President, Prof. Dr. Layli Maparyan, made a passionate enchantment for pressing intervention, warning that with out assist, the reopening of lessons, scheduled for Monday, September 8, 2025, may very well be delayed.
To deal with the calls for of the College of Liberia College Affiliation (ULFA) and facilitate the reopening of lessons, the next actions should be taken instantly,” Dr. Maparyan stated.
She outlined three pressing priorities: fee of again pay for adjunct professors, compensation for 2025 instructing overloads, renovation of campus lavatory amenities, and provision of medical insurance coverage protection for college members.
“An estimated $500,000 is required to fulfill these pressing wants, guarantee college return to school rooms, and provoke the required infrastructure enhancements,” she emphasised. The college is now formally requesting that quantity to jumpstart the tutorial yr.
Dr. Maparyan additionally highlighted a wider funding hole impacting college operations. She revealed that whereas the college requested $41 million for the fiscal yr, it acquired solely $33 million, 90% of which has already been allotted for salaries.
“It should value US$3.9 million to renovate the College of Liberia,” she proposed. To mitigate the monetary shortfall, she outlined a number of cost-cutting measures.
“We are going to 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,” she stated.
As the tutorial yr hangs within the stability, UL’s administration and lawmakers are below strain to resolve a funding disaster that threatens the training of 1000’s of Liberian college students. Enhancing by Jonathan Browne
