LICOSESS CAN/ONL Partnership Agreement Liberia: 15-Year Deal Boosts Education

• LICOSESS College of Education and Change Agent Network/Opportunity Network Liberia (CAN/ONL) signed a 15-year partnership on August 3, 2026.
• The agreement transfers academic and management leadership of the CAN Leadership Academy School System to LICOSESS, impacting approximately 1,690 students across three campuses.
• The partnership aims to enhance teacher training, strengthen school management, and expand access to quality education in Liberia.
• Key provisions include the establishment of the CAN Leadership Academy as a LICOSESS Demonstration School and comprehensive governance reforms.
• A strong emphasis is placed on academic excellence, professional management, transparency, accountability, and robust child protection policies.

A critical aspect of the collaboration involves a strong commitment to child protection, with effective policies and appropriate reporting mechanisms deemed essential for students ranging from nursery through Grade 12.

On August 3, 2026, a significant 15-year partnership agreement was formally established between the LICOSESS College of Education and the Change Agent Network/Opportunity Network Liberia (CAN/ONL). This comprehensive LICOSESS CAN/ONL partnership agreement Liberia is designed to elevate teacher training standards, fortify school management practices, and broaden access to quality education throughout the nation. A central tenet of this accord involves the transfer of both management and academic leadership responsibilities for the CAN Leadership Academy School System to LICOSESS. However, CAN/ONL will maintain its role as the institution's founding organization, retaining strategic oversight.

The collaboration encompasses three distinct campuses: Jacob Town in Montserrado County, Gbarnga in Bong County, and Neigbein in Nimba County. These facilities collectively serve approximately 1,690 students, from nursery through Grade 12. Prior to the official signing, transition meetings were convened on July 30 and 31, bringing together school administrators, teachers, and support staff to facilitate discussions on the new management framework and implementation strategies, ensuring a smooth handover.

A cornerstone of this partnership is the designation of the CAN Leadership Academy as an official LICOSESS Demonstration School. This innovative arrangement is intended to provide trainee teachers with invaluable supervised classroom experience, allowing them to observe seasoned educators, practice classroom management techniques, deliver lessons, and receive constructive professional feedback. Dr. Benjamin Y. Wehye, President of LICOSESS, articulated the partnership's core priorities, which include fostering academic excellence, ensuring professional management, upholding transparency and accountability, implementing robust child protection measures, achieving financial sustainability, promoting innovative teaching methodologies, and supporting continuous professional development.

The agreement outlines comprehensive governance reforms, including the establishment of a Partnership Council, improved financial management, transparent recruitment procedures, strengthened performance monitoring, and the adoption of modern procurement practices. Given that the academy caters to students from nursery through Grade 12, a critical aspect of the collaboration involves a strong commitment to child protection, with effective policies and appropriate reporting mechanisms deemed essential for maintaining safe learning environments. The institutions' consistent implementation of these measures will be vital for strengthening accountability within the Liberia education sector governance framework. The campuses boast impressive facilities, including 65 classrooms, 20 administrative offices, over 40 modern bathrooms with running water, two 50-kilovolt-ampere standby generators, campus-wide water systems, Starlink internet connectivity, approximately 2,000 student chairs, and 75 student desks. Additional resources encompass science materials, office equipment, multimedia teaching tools, musical instruments, and nine industrial tailoring machines for vocational education, alongside guest houses in Montserrado and Bong counties offering more than 20 accommodation rooms.

Both LICOSESS and CAN/ONL share a profound commitment to addressing critical educational needs in Liberia. LICOSESS is dedicated to preparing teachers who are equipped to serve their communities effectively post-training, thereby mitigating the challenges rural schools face in attracting and retaining qualified educators. Concurrently, CAN/ONL, through its Change Agent Network Opportunity Network Liberia initiatives, is focused on expanding educational opportunities for underserved children. This synergy of missions is expected to forge a stronger link between teacher preparation and the practical demands of the classroom.

The partnership also aligns with LICOSESS's broader strategic objective of establishing teacher-training centers across Liberia. As part of the integration process, Dr. Wehye announced plans for the relocation of the LICOSESS Patmelia Annex to the Jacob Town campus, commencing with the September-November 2026 trimester. Furthermore, the college intends to move its Bong County operations from St. Peter's Episcopal High School. These strategic relocations are designed to bring teacher training facilities into closer proximity with the demonstration school, thereby enhancing opportunities for collaborative engagement between trainee teachers and practicing educators, ultimately improving classroom instruction as anticipated by CAN/ONL Chief Executive Officer Eric W. Wowoh. This Liberia educational institution collaboration sets a new standard for long-term strategic alliances.

Lawyers advising educational institutions or non-profits in Liberia should note the comprehensive governance reforms and child protection policy requirements outlined in this partnership, which set a benchmark for structuring similar long-term collaborations and ensuring compliance with operational and ethical standards.

Source: Original reporting via press announcement