MONROVIA – Following recent consultation with the health authorities, the Ministry of Education wishes to officially announce the reopening of schools for additional levels from 6^th grade to 11^th grade. The reopening is aimed at first completing the end of the Academic Calendar for 2019/2020 and the preparation for the new academic year 2020/2021. The admittance of students into physical school will be implemented in phases with 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th graders beginning and to be followed by 10^th and 11^th graders.

 The Early Childhood Education level to 5^th grade will not be enrolled in physical activities to complete the 2019/2020 academic year as more review is conducted to adequately plan for the opening of the ECE level for the next academic year. Schools are urged to facilitate the packaging of lessons as homework for the ECE to 5^th-grade students and plan for a one-time assessment.

The school hour will run from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM daily from Monday to Saturday and Sunday in the case of Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) School students. The following rollout of physical school activities and other plans are outlined for the school owners, students, education partners, and the general public:

12^TH GRADERS COMPLETION

The 12^th graders’ classes which began on June 29, 2020, will end on August 14, 2020. The West African Senior Secondary Certification Examination (WASSCE) is scheduled to start in Liberia on August 17, 2020, and end on September 2, 2020, which marks the full closure of the academic calendar for 12^th graders for 2019/2020. Schools are urged to complete internal assessment by August 3, to 7, 2020, and finalize report cards for distribution on October 26 to 30, 2020.

Except otherwise advised by the Ministry of Health, there shall be NO assemblies for graduation ceremonies for all levels. The Status of the health risk shall dictates the course of action then and any options shall be announced as the time approaches.

ADMITTANCE OF 6^TH, 7^TH, 8^TH, AND 9^TH GRADERS

The 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th graders will begin classes on August 10, 2020, and end on October 3, 2020. Schools are required to focus the activities of the catch-up classes on core subjects’ lessons (Mathematics, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies) to complete the academic calendar 2019/2020. Schools are also encouraged to conduct a continuous assessment based on the content covered during the catch-up classes through classwork, homework, project, and quizzes to obtain report for 4^th marking period in the case of those schools that did not complete the test before the covid19 disruption of school and 5^th and 6^th marking periods, respectively.

ADMITTANCE OF 10^TH AND 11^TH GRADERS

The 10^th and 11^th graders classes will begin on October 5, 2020, and end on November 4, 2020. The subjects of focus for these grade levels are Mathematics, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies.

COMPLETION OF 2019/2020 FOR ECE TO 5^TH GRADE

The Early Childhood Education level to 5^th grade will not be enrolled in physical activities to complete the 2019/2020 academic year as more review is conducted to adequately plan for the opening of the ECE level for the next academic year. Schools are urged to facilitate the packaging of lessons as homework for the ECE to 5^th-grade students and plan for a one-time assessment. The lessons should be packaged into a weekly format outlining daily activities to guide the students and parents. Schools should also complete a study guide and any relevant information on final assessment of students and provided to parents. For assistance on developing these learning materials, kindly contact the Office of the Assistant Minister for Early Childhood Education and the Office of the Assistant Minister for Basic and Secondary Education, respectively.

All final assessment report cards for grades 1 to 11 for the Academic Year 2019/2020 should be completed and distributed by November 16, to 25, 2020, while grade 12 report cards should be completed and distributed by October 26, to 30, 2020.

The Ministry of Education wishes to emphasize that while the enforcement of hygiene rules and practices for a safe school environment is the school administrator’s responsibility, students, families, and communities also have an important role to play in ensuring compliance. Parents are required to continuously observe their children and if the child shows any symptoms of COVID19, and restrict the child from attending classes as well as contact the health team immediately.

Finally, the Ministry of Education reminds all that the Coronavirus pandemic is still a crisis and cautions the public to follow the health guidelines and safety protocols provided by the health authorities.

(Monrovia, Liberia) - The President of Liberia, H.E. Dr. George Maneh Weah has called on West African leaders to continue to work in the spirit of African solidarity and unity in order to resolve differences over a new single currency program amongst member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He said the only way out of the current deadlock is through "informed and cordial dialogue" between the francophone and anglophone blocs.

The Liberian Leader was speaking on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, during a virtual conference of heads of state of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ). The meeting was convened by WAMZ Sierra Leonean President, Julius Madaa Bio to discuss differences that have emerged following a decision by countries that make up Francophone West Africa to go ahead with adopting a version of the ECO as their official currency ahead of a planned date agreed upon by regional member states.

President Weah believes negotiations and diplomacy can resolve the apparent misunderstanding. "We must open those channels now to de-escalate tension", he said.

President Weah recounted Liberia's recent history when the country benefitted from the unity of ECOWAS at the height of the country's civil war: "It was this solidarity that brought both English-speaking and French-speaking countries under the single banner of ECOWAS to Liberia to save lives".   

The President told his colleagues that the story reflected the solidarity that the founders of ECOWAS left with succeeding generations to cherish and protect.  "As we meet at this highest level", he said, "we must use this legacy wisely to preserve and protect the unity of our sub-regional organization"'.

He suggested that a special committee be set up to discuss with President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d'Ivoire, who made the adoption pronouncement on behalf of the Francophone bloc. 

President Weah said the goal of this committee would be to prevent the francophone West African Monetary Union (WAEMU) from implementing its version of the ECO in order to win the organization some time to continue to resolve this matter and "get the ECO back on course". He said the special committee should also seek an audience with French President Emmanuel Macron. 

The Liberian Leader's suggestion for a special committee was in sync with Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, who stressed the importance of regional integration. President Akufo-Addo said it was critical to the Peoples of West Africa that the differences were settled as quickly as possible and the ECO made operational. He said the decision making of Francophone nations should have been more inclusive.

Nigeria's Muhammadu Buhari urged the need for regional countries to "come together on this issue". He highlighted the importance of the ECO and the progress that has been made - including the adoption of an exchange rate regime. He said it was a "matter of concern" that Francophone countries will go ahead with the adoption without consulting the rest of the union, but called for more engagement.

Tuesday's summit was attended by Anglophone West African countries, Liberia, Nigeria,  Ghana, Gambia, and Sierra Leone  joined by francophone Guinea.

President Weah Wants Investors Take Advantage of Liberia’s Rich Natural Resources Monrovia, Liberia:His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah who on Thursday, November 28, 2019 gave the keynote address at the opening of the Liberian International Mining, Energy and Petroleum Conference & Exhibition, dubbed SEMICA LIBERIA 2019, called on investors to explore and take advantage of Liberia’s vast natural resources. The President said though Liberia is the oldest African Republic, much of the country’s natural resources remain virgin, untapped and it would be mutually beneficial for national and international investors to partner with Government to make prudent use of the countries’ rich resources. “I am delighted to be here this morning to welcome all of you to this historical international event – SEMICA LIBERIA 2019 – an international convention and exhibition intended to showcase Liberia’s potentials in the field of mining, energy and petroleum,” the Liberian President asserted. He named some of Liberia’s resources as gold, diamond, bauxite, uranium and prospective oil & gas, and told the gathering of experts that these endowments can only transform the economy and bring prosperity to the country and people when used appropriately by “trustworthy international investors.” In order to tap these natural resources to transform Liberia’s economy and bring prosperity to the Liberian people, the President said, “I will need international and trustworthy investors to come forward to make meaningful investment.” He reiterated his usual declaration since taking over state power that Liberia is open for business “to all of those who are willing to participate on fair, honest and equitable business in the development of our resources.” President Weah emphasized that such business coordination and partnership must be on a win-win basis, where the parties involved are respectful of the mutual interests of all. The Liberian Chief Executive said he was hopeful and confident that the conferees would have a better appreciation of Liberia’s available natural resources, particularly the full potentials of the mining, energy and carbon sector. President Weah noted: “I am hopeful that the interactions among you here at this forum between potential investors and relevant officials of our government will be fruitful and productive to our mutual benefit.” The two-day event, which draws experts from Liberia and Burkina Faso, will be characterized by panel discussions on several thematic areas such as, Investing in Liberia’s Mineral Energy & Petroleum Resources to Stimulate National Economic Growth; How to Finance African Energy Sector; How to invest in Liberia, Investment opportunities in Liberia’s Mining and Energy Sectors; among many others. SEMICA is an annual international platform used by experts to brainstorm on the possibilities and challenges of unlocking Africa’s bustling mining, energy and gas and oil sectors