Undergrads at state universities in Liberia are in for a treat because President George Weah has abolished tuition fees, IOL reports.
"The students came in front of my office to complain that the administrators have increased the tuition in the school. I was not happy about that," Weah said.
Weah, who took office in January, said he decided to nix the fees once and for all following a meeting with the University of Liberia's administration, according to MSN. The move fits with the new leader's campaign platform, which included a goal to fight poverty and jumpstart Liberia's economy following the country's civil wars.
"I was shocked when I was told that every semester about 20,000 [would-be students] go through the registration process, [but] only 12,000 attend," noted Weah, who was elected late last year. "Furthermore, about 5,000 of the 12,000 who are in attendance are depending on some form of financial aid or scholarships. The rest of the students do not attend due to the lack of financial aid."
The country has three more state universities in addition to the University of Liberia, including the Booker Washington Institute, Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law and the William Tubman University.
"The inability of our young people to continue their education is very troubling," said Weah.
Latim Da-Thong, the minister of education, said the new measure will not cover room and board, books and other fees, according to AllAfrica.
Da-Thong called the decision an important investment in the country's future.
"Think about the government investing billions of dollars in building roads; what will it take to invest in building the Liberian people?" Da-Thong asked. "The total tuition of a student going to the UL is between U.S. $50-60; so even if you talk about 20,000 students, it will be around a million or two million dollars, and that is not too much for President Weah to give back to the Liberian people."
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