How School Fees in Liberia Are Denying Children Education

School fees in Liberia pose a significant barrier to education, causing many children to delay their enrollment, miss classes, or drop out entirely, according to a report from Human Rights Watch released today. The 75-page document titled "‘[Without Education, There Will Be Nothing’: School Fees and Other Barriers to Education in Liberia]" highlights how mandatory fees, despite Liberia's legal obligation for free and compulsory education from grades 1 to 9, create a heavy financial burden for families and violate children's right to education. In Liberia, children often enter school late or are sent home when their parents can't cover fees. Many face the choice of dropping out or never attending at all. Jo Becker, director of children's rights advocacy at Human Rights Watch, stated, "The Liberian government has made important commitments to free and compulsory education, but school fees continue to keep children out of the classroom. Eliminating these fees would be a crucial step toward enhancing education access in Liberia and securing better futures for children." From November 2025 to January 2026, Human Rights Watch conducted on-site visits at 21 schools, interviewing 118 parents, teachers, and school administrators across Montserrado, Margibi, Nimba, Bong, and Grand Bassa counties. Also, child advocates conducted peer interviews with 61 youth. A 14-year-old boy shared his experience, stating, "Right now, I’m not in school because my parents can’t afford to send me. I really want to go back." Unfortunately, Liberia has one of the highest out-of-school rates globally, with approximately one-third of school-aged children, between ages 3 to 17, and nearly half of rural children having never attended school. Only 38 percent finish grade 6, and a mere 17 percent complete grade 9. These statistics place Liberia among the lowest-performing education systems worldwide, underscoring the immense challenges children face. Although laws mandate free education from grades 1 to 9, fees remain applicable across all educational levels, severely affecting education access in Liberia. Parents report that these mandatory charges delay school enrollment and hinder consistent attendance. For the early childhood education segment, serving ages 3 to 5, 43 percent are over the recommended age. By the time they reach secondary school, over 60 percent of students are at least four years older than their designated grade age. This late schooling increases their likelihood of grade repetition, dropouts, and failure to complete their education. In a nation where nearly half of the population lives in poverty, school fees impose an additional financial strain on families, contrary to Liberia’s obligations under international and regional human rights law, such as the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Parents have reported incurring debt, going without meals, and making extreme sacrifices just to keep their children in school. Besides the financial challenges, issues affecting education quality include overcrowded classrooms, poor infrastructure, low teacher salaries, and a reliance on volunteer educators. Some schools have between 80 to 100 students in a single class. Unpaid volunteers often make up a substantial portion of the teaching staff, hoping to eventually secure a paid position. Liberia's education system is still reeling from the long-term impacts of civil wars, the Ebola outbreak, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Public investment in education remains dismally low, with the 2026 education budget representing around 11 percent of national spending and 2.73 percent of GDP. This is significantly below the ECOWAS average of 4 percent and the international standard of 4-6 percent of GDP. Human Rights Watch acknowledged that the government is making strides to improve educational access and quality. The Excellence in Learning in Liberia (EXCEL) initiative, an $88.7 million project funded by a $60 million World Bank loan and a $28.7 million grant from the Global Partnership for Education, aims to enhance educational opportunities. Part of this funding includes $18.5 million earmarked for school grants to alleviate or eliminate fees. If implemented effectively, these grants could greatly lower financial barriers, enabling timely enrollment and retention of children in school. Human Rights Watch estimates that substituting registration fees with school grants across public schools, from early childhood to senior secondary education, could increase the education budget by about 4 percent, thereby making this change attainable. Immediate action is crucial: the government must eliminate registration fees at public primary and junior secondary schools, moving expeditiously to remove these costs for early childhood and senior secondary education as well. Human Rights Watch also urges the expansion and sustainability of school grants, increased education funding to meet international benchmarks, and prioritization of spending in early childhood through secondary education. Additionally, the government should continue efforts to ensure adequately compensated and trained educators, construct and rehabilitate schools, and provide essential materials and facilities, prioritizing underserved regions. By expanding access to free, quality public education, Liberia can better tackle poverty and inequality, strengthen its human capital, and offer broader opportunities for millions of children. Jo Becker emphasized the opportunity before Liberia: "Ensuring free, quality public education is one of the most effective investments the country can make." For more details, visit Human Rights Watch's original report: https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/05/20/liberia-school-fees-block-childrens-access-to-education. Additionally, further resources on education issues can be found at [Global Partnership for Education](https://www.globalpartnership.org). Keep informed through [Globe Migrant](http://www.globemigrant.com).

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