Monrovia – The Ministry of Education has officially reintroduced Civics Education at the primary school level, with Education Minister Jarso Jallah saying the initiative is aimed at preparing a new generation of Liberians to understand their rights, responsibilities and role in shaping the future of the country.
Minister Jallah made the announcement Monday during Liberia’s 179th National Flag Day celebration at the Executive Pavilion in Monrovia, where she stressed that civic education must go beyond memorizing the colors of the national flag, singing the national anthem or identifying other national symbols.
According to the Education Minister, Liberia needs a generation of young people who understand what it means to be citizens and who are prepared to participate responsibly in the country’s democratic and national development processes.
She said children must understand not only what they have inherited from previous generations but also the responsibility they carry to preserve and improve the country for those who will come after them.
“Civics Education” should therefore become more than another subject taught for examination purposes, Jallah emphasized.
She said teachers and school administrators have a responsibility to ensure that lessons about citizenship are connected to the everyday experiences of students and the challenges facing Liberian society.
The Minister said students must be taught how democracy works, including the importance of participation, respect for the rule of law and peaceful engagement with people who hold different opinions.
She particularly stressed the importance of teaching children how to disagree without turning differences into hostility.
For Jallah, the ability to peacefully disagree is essential to the development of a stable democratic society.
She said children must learn early that political, social, religious and personal differences should not automatically turn fellow citizens into enemies.
The reintroduction of Civics Education comes at a time when Liberia continues to emphasize national unity, democratic values and responsible citizenship.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, speaking at the same National Flag Day celebration, also highlighted the importance of civic education and announced the reintroduction of the subject in primary schools alongside standardized civics textbooks.
The President said the initiative would help restore students’ understanding of Liberia’s history, Constitution, national symbols, rights and responsibilities.
Jallah’s remarks reinforced that vision, placing the classroom at the center of Liberia’s long-term effort to strengthen national identity and responsible citizenship.
She also announced the official launch of standardized Civics textbooks intended to support teachers and students as the subject returns to primary school classrooms.
The Minister expressed appreciation to Wahala Publishing Company for its support toward the initiative.
The standardized textbooks are expected to provide a common instructional framework for Civics Education across primary schools and help ensure that students receive consistent lessons on citizenship and national values.
Jallah said the success of the initiative, however, will not depend solely on textbooks.
She emphasized that children learn from the conduct of adults around them.
Parents, communities, government institutions, teachers, public officials and other influential members of society, she said, must demonstrate the principles of good citizenship in their daily lives.
The Minister warned that it would be difficult to teach children to respect the law if adults routinely disregard it or to promote patriotism among students while adults place personal or partisan interests above the national good.
She therefore called for a collective approach to citizenship education involving schools, families and communities.
According to Jallah, classrooms can introduce civic principles, but children will also learn about citizenship by observing how adults treat one another, respond to disagreements, respect institutions and fulfill their responsibilities.
She linked the initiative to President Boakai’s national message of “Think Liberia, Love Liberia, and Build Liberia,” saying the slogan carries a significant lesson for young people.
Jallah said building Liberia requires citizens who understand that citizenship comes with obligations.
Loving the country, she argued, must be demonstrated through responsible conduct, respect for others, participation in national development and a willingness to contribute positively to society.
The Education Minister’s remarks also placed greater responsibility on teachers.
She said educators must help students understand that education is not simply about passing examinations but also about preparing young people to become productive and responsible members of society.
Teachers, she suggested, should create classroom environments where students can express opinions, listen to opposing views and learn how to resolve disagreements peacefully.
The approach is intended to prepare students for participation in a democratic society where citizens will inevitably hold different political and social views.
Jallah’s emphasis on peaceful disagreement also reflects a broader national concern about political polarization and social division.
By introducing civic concepts at the primary level, the Ministry of Education hopes to help children develop an understanding of democratic principles before they enter adulthood.
The initiative also seeks to strengthen young people’s connection to Liberia’s national identity.
While students will learn about the national flag, anthem and other symbols, Jallah said those lessons must be accompanied by a deeper understanding of the history and responsibilities attached to citizenship.
She said children should understand why national symbols matter and what those symbols represent in relation to Liberia’s history and future.
The Minister ultimately described the classroom as a critical starting point for national development.
“The future of Liberia is already being shaped in the nation’s classrooms,” she said.
