Liberia: Gov’t Re-commits to Supporting Young Talents

The 2022 edition of the Liberia National Debate Championship (LNDC) has kicked off in Monrovia, with the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Education (MoE) having re-committed its support to young and brilliant talents in the country, especially within the educational arena.

The LNDC aims to help secondary students grow intellectually and assign them to a mentor grooming. 

Delivering the keynote address, Alexander N. Duopu, Deputy Education Minister for Instruction, told the audience that debate gives students an opportunity to practice speaking and think on their feet. He said debate also provides practice in developing sound and logical arguments on complex socio-economic and political issues affecting the nation’s corporate existence.

“So, today I want to re-commit our dedication and commitment to this process. Because of you, we are there and without you, we cannot work. As a teacher, myself I am fully involved in this process,” the Deputy Education Minister told students.

“So, debate offers a unique opportunity for us education stakeholders to see ourselves in the mirror clearly,” he added. “The importance of debate in our education system can’t be over emphasized.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure and honor to join you today. Big congratulations to Mr. Alex Devine and the Youth for Change folks and sponsors for organizing this very worthy forum,” he concluded.

Also speaking, John Kobina Richardson, World Bank Senior Transport Specialist, who spoke on behalf of the Country Manager, Dr. Khwima Nthara, encouraged all participating young students to take advantage of the platform to increase their understanding of various societal issues impacting the well-being of Liberians today.

“We understand that this debate championship was established to help the youth of Liberia improve communication and interpersonal skills, critical thinking, retention of information learned, listening, note-taking and self-confidence; and to enhance teamwork, skill and collaboration,” Richardson said.

According to him, with the launch of the LNCD, the Bank intends to partner with Youth for Change to use its platform to share the Bank’s knowledge products to increase students’ understanding about various thematic issues impacting the development of society.

“Through your active participation in this competition,,” he added, “you are going to be empowered to play a vital role in your development, as well as that of your communities.”

According to him, youth development is a process that prepares a young person to meet the challenges of adolescence and adulthood and achieve his or her full potential.  He strongly urged the students to take advantage of the competition and serve as role models for other young people. “you can make a difference and avoid the path of drug addiction, crime and other vices that tend to undermine the development of society.”    

Youth For Change Executive Director, Alex Devine, said the competition this year will be used to measure students’ output which is tied to measuring Liberia’s educational system outcome.

Mr. Devine said the Liberia national debate championship was established in 2015 with a quest to help secondary students grow intellectually and identify Liberia’s brightest students and assign them to mentors that will groom them into their respective fields of study.

“Since the debate was introduced in 2015 with 20 participating High Schools in its first edition in Monrovia, this year will host a nationwide competition in the 15 counties across Liberia for the first time in three stages: the preliminary, central and the grand final stage,” he said.

He also used the occasion to appeal to well-meaning individuals and organizations to help sponsor the LNCD to ensure that the output of the students is well on course.

Meanwhile, the launch of the program was attended by 450 participating schools, as well as Liberian presidential hopeful, Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe; Deputy EU Head of Mission for Political, Press and Information Section, Anders Arvidsson; Tomalin George of Spoon Network; and Madam Wadei Powell, CEO, Srimex Oil, and Gas Company. The LNDC 2022 kick-off took place last week at the Monrovia Christian Fellowship, under the theme: “Measuring Learning Outcomes in Liberia’s Secondary Education Levels”.