PARIS, FRANCE — Liberia has taken a major step to strengthen its partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), as Minister of Education Hon. Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah officially presented her Letters of Credence to UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany as Liberia’s Permanent Delegate to the organization.
The ceremony, held Thursday at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, marks a renewed push by the Boakai administration to place education, science, innovation and culture at the center of Liberia’s international diplomacy and national development agenda.
Dr. Jallah, who was appointed to serve at the ministerial level as Liberia’s Permanent Delegate, conveyed greetings from President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. and the people of Liberia, and reaffirmed Liberia’s strong commitment to UNESCO’s mandate of promoting inclusive quality education, scientific advancement and cultural preservation.
She also referenced President Boakai’s recent meeting with the UNESCO Director-General on the margins of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, noting that the government is keen to transform diplomatic engagements into concrete programs for Liberia.
In her remarks, Minister Jallah outlined Liberia’s key priorities for cooperation with UNESCO.
These include expanding access to quality education, strengthening teacher professional development, scaling up Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), advancing science, technology and innovation, and preserving Liberia’s rich cultural and historical heritage.
She stressed that Liberia’s youthful population must be equipped with relevant skills for a fast-changing world driven by digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence, and that UNESCO’s technical expertise will be critical in achieving that goal.
Director-General El-Enany welcomed Dr. Jallah’s accreditation, describing Liberia’s decision to appoint its Education Minister as Permanent Delegate as a clear sign of the importance Monrovia attaches to UNESCO.
He said the move creates a unique opportunity to deepen cooperation in areas such as promoting girls’ participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), building teachers’ capacity to use Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies in classrooms, and supporting broader education reforms.
Such collaboration, he noted, could help Liberia modernize its education system and better prepare students for the global digital economy.
During the engagement, Minister Jallah also announced Liberia’s intention to seek re-election to the UNESCO Executive Board in 2027.
The Executive Board is one of UNESCO’s key governing bodies, responsible for overseeing program implementation and preparing decisions for the General Conference. Liberia’s candidacy reflects its ambition to not only benefit from UNESCO programs but also contribute to shaping global policy on education, science and culture.
While the accreditation in Paris is a diplomatic milestone, its true impact will be measured by what happens back home in Liberian classrooms, TVET centers and cultural institutions.
Liberia continues to face major challenges including low learning outcomes, shortage of trained teachers, limited vocational training opportunities and weak integration of technology in education. Stronger partnership with UNESCO could bring technical assistance, capacity building, knowledge exchange and targeted interventions to address these gaps.
Minister Jallah was accompanied by Liberia’s Ambassador to France, H.E. Dr. Teeko Tozay Yorlay, Deputy Permanent Representative Madam Marilyn Gaye, and Minister-Counsellor Senve Darling Tehmeh.
Observers say the ministerial-level representation gives Liberia a stronger voice at UNESCO and positions the country to better leverage international partnerships for national development.