USA: The Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA) is urging the Weah-Taylor administration to quickly identify the source of funding for the recently announced tuition free policy for undergraduate students in public universities and colleges.
The Association in a Press Release issued on Monday, said in these terrible economic times, the President has a responsibility to clearly articulate the financial implications and long-term sustainability of a policy that affects thousands of undergraduate students in the country.
In the absence of this, ALJA said the President’s pronouncement should be considered as a political gimmick.
The Association says while it welcomes President George Weah’s manifested interest in the education of the country’s youths, the pronouncement appeared to be spontaneous and meant to gather political support for the President and the CDC led government amongst the disadvantaged student populace of Liberia.
ALJA in it press release described the October 24, 2018’s pronouncement as an off the cuff action, terming it as not sustainable.
The Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas said it opposes the pronouncement because the President and political advisors failed to factor in the costs associated with undergraduate education in today’s Liberia.
ALJA said in the wake of the prevailing situation, most public schools, colleges and universities remain understaffed, ill-equipped and inefficient in meeting the educational needs of students and the country as a whole.
The Association said unless President Weah’s ill-advised announcement is given a sober reflection, it has the propensity of further eroding learning at public universities in Liberia.
