The Catholic Education Secretariat (CES) of Gbarnga proudly joined other diocesan education secretariats at the National Catholic Education Secretariat (NACES) Annual Meeting, held from February 3 to February 8, 2025. This significant gathering brought together the Catholic Education Secretariats staff from across Liberia to discuss key educational challenges, financial matters, and strategic improvements for Catholic schools nationwide. Hosted in Monrovia and Cape Palmas, the meeting provided an opportunity for collaboration and decision-making among diocesan representatives. This year’s meeting focused on building a stronger Catholic school system across Liberia through governance, policy, financial reform, and strategic planning.

🕊️ Day One: Faith and Foundations

The week opened with a Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Monrovia. Rev. Fr. Tugbe welcomed all, emphasizing the growing role of Catholic education in national development. Key conversations centered on:

·         Strengthening NACES support across dioceses

·         Promoting inter-diocesan collaboration

·         Aligning schools with national education policies

💰 Day Two: Finance, Staffing & Infrastructure

Financial sustainability took center stage. Sessions tackled:

·         Ensuring financial accountability across schools

·         Upholding the Decent Work Act ($143 USD minimum salary for qualified teachers)

·         Renovating aging school infrastructure

·         Strengthening diocesan financial systems

📜 Day Three: Policy & Legal Compliance

Day three highlighted the need for robust internal systems:

·         A proposal for a NACES Internal Audit Office

·         Compliance with tax laws and school regulations

·         Strategies to manage teacher discipline and address ethical issues like corruption and harassment

📊 Day Four: Diocesan Reports & Planning 

📍 Why Diocesan Reports Matter in the NACES Annual Meeting

A core component of the NACES Annual Meeting is the presentation of diocesan reports, where each Catholic Education Secretariat across Liberia shares its progress, challenges, and strategic plans. These reports are essential for ensuring transparency, fostering collaboration, and identifying areas where support or reforms are needed. By highlighting real-time achievements and obstacles, NACES gains a clearer picture of how Catholic education is functioning nationwide. It also allows dioceses to learn from one another, pool resources, and align efforts toward strengthening Catholic school systems across the country.

Each diocese, including CES Gbarnga, presented progress and challenges:

🔹 CES Gbarnga Highlights:

·         Reported financial challenges, including loan issues at Bishop Carroll High and unpaid taxes by three schools

·         Principal turnover at St. Mark’s (Palala) and St. Dominic

·         Recommendations to seek alumni support and external funding

🔹 Cape Palmas Report:

·         Student population reached 4,802

·         20% school fee increase, new music program launched

·         Ongoing classroom space and transportation issues

🔹 Monrovia Report:

·         $1.6M budget for school repair and development

·         Recognized as Liberia’s Most Consistent Taxpayer

·         Efforts to align with labor laws and prevent teacher strikes

🙌 Day Five: Closing & Moving Forward

Rev. Fr. Varfee-Sumo urged continued unity and reform, while Sr. Jappah expressed gratitude on behalf of NACES. The session ended with a team tour and early morning departure from Harper.

🔑 Resolutions & Upcoming Events:

·         NACES 10th Anniversary – June 2025, with Mass and launch of religious education books by Sr. Mary Laurence Brown, OSF

·         Next NACES Meeting – June 24–27, 2025, Monrovia

·         WAEC/WASSCE Focus – Better exam prep and reduction of malpractice

·         Curriculum Harmonization – Standardizing Catholic Religious Education across all dioceses

This powerful week reaffirmed CES Gbarnga’s dedication to promoting faith-filled, quality education and collaborative leadership in Liberia. 🙏🏽📚