On 15 February 2024 in Monrovia, Liberia, The Coalition for Transparency and Accountability in Education (COTAE) through the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) launched a Research Report on the Implementation of the Liberia Education Advancement Program (LEAP) 2017-2022 developed with GI-ESCR’s support. 

The objectives of the launch were to provide credible and updated information to the public on key issues and developments around the LEAP program and to facilitate informed conversations among education stakeholders and the public on the matters around the LEAP implementation. 

The event gathered education stakeholders including representation from the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS), the National Teachers Association of Liberia (NTAL), government actors, civil society organisations, and the media, among others. This made a total of 35 participants: 23 men and 12 women. 

Anderson Miamen, COTAE’s National Coordinator, presented the findings of the report highlighting its objectives, background, issues identified, scope, methodology, limitations, challenges, and recommendations. 

Aya Douabou, Programme Officer – Africa, who joined the launch online, explained the rationale behind GI-ESCR’s research and advocacy work with partners at the national level on the issue of privatisation in education. 

Following up on the launch, COTAE will embark on various dissemination activities to further popularise the findings of the report and strengthen its related advocacy. 

The LEAP is a public-private partnership (PPP) in which Bridge International Academies (BIA, now NewGlobe) is a major provider. The report found the following: Lack of evidence-based expansion and scale-up of the LEAP program; Limited transparency, participation, and accountability regarding decision-making, availability of information and finances related to LEAP; Lack of respect for the rule of law; Conflict of interest; Unequal playing field for LEAP providers - Preferential treatment of BIA; Fundraising and sustainability issues; and Unfulfilled verbal promises to schools and communities. 

This report shows once again that PPPs are not a sustainable solution to address education challenges. It reiterates the importance for States to prioritise the strengthening of public education over its delegation to commercial actors whose goal is more about profit-making than realising the right to education for all.