Education

Overview

Education is not a privilege. In Liberia, we are working to make it a lived reality.

BASA Development Initiatives (BDI) approaches education as the foundation of long-term economic mobility, social stability, and national development. Yet across Liberia, the education system continues to face deep and persistent challenges. An estimated 15–20% of school-age children remain out of school, with higher rates in rural and hard-to-reach counties. Even among those enrolled, completion remains low, with the average Liberian attaining fewer than five years of formal schooling. Foundational learning is a major concern, with many children in upper primary unable to read or perform basic numeracy tasks at grade level.
The barriers are layered and reinforcing. Poverty remains the single largest constraint, with families unable to cover informal school costs, uniforms, or learning materials. Distance to schools, especially at the junior and senior secondary levels, further limits access for rural children. Girls face compounded challenges, including early pregnancy, caregiving responsibilities, and lack of menstrual health support, which contributes to absenteeism and dropout. In many schools, overcrowded classrooms, limited teaching and learning materials, and underqualified or unsupported teachers affect the quality of instruction. At the same time, there is a widening gap between what is taught and the skills needed for employment, with digital literacy, problem-solving, and practical competencies largely absent from most learning environments.

Our Three Focus Areas

Key Objectives