MYS Launches Component One Of the NSP-JNB "Back to School" Project Targeting 1,000 Students.

In an effort to reduce the financial burden on parents, the National Service Program (NSP) under the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) has officially launched the Joseph N. Boakai “Back to School Project.”

The project is designed to provide essential educational materials, including textbooks, stationery, and other school supplies, to ensure that students are adequately equipped to succeed academically.
Speaking on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at the launch ceremony held in Paynesville City, the Chairman of the ruling Unity Party (UP), Rev. J. Luther Tarpeh, reflected on President Joseph N. Boakai’s campaign promise that under his administration, no child would be left behind and that children would be taken off the streets and placed in classrooms where they can prepare to become the future leaders of Liberia.

Rev. Tarpeh commended Youth and Sports Minister, Cllr. Jeror Cole Bangalu, for his dynamic leadership in realizing the President’s vision, adding that the Unity Party-led government remains committed to providing opportunities that empower the youth of Liberia.

He cautioned school authorities against selling the donated materials, stressing that the items are intended strictly for students in need. “Give these materials to the children who need them most. They must not end up in the market. The government is doing everything possible to help our struggling parents,” Rev. Tarpeh warned.

Also speaking at the event, Minister Bangalu reaffirmed that the primary goal of the Presidential Back to School Initiative is to ease the financial pressure on parents. He apologized for the delay in distributing the materials, attributing it to the procurement process, and assured the public that the initiative will continue throughout the Unity Party administration.

Meanwhile, the President of the Liberia National Student Union (LINSU), Mr. James Washington, lauded the government for the initiative but called for a decentralized distribution of educational materials across the country’s 15 political subdivisions. “Monrovia is not Liberia,” he emphasized, urging the government to extend the project to children in remote areas such as Lofa County and the Southeastern region.

According to the Focal Person and Acting Deputy Minister for Youth Development, Mr. Alphonso Y. Belleh II, the first phase of the project targets 49 schools and is expected to benefit over 1,000 students. Items distributed include book bags, copybooks, pens, pencils, calculators, and other learning materials.
The event marked a significant step in the government’s ongoing effort to promote education, support families, and invest in the next generation of Liberian leaders.