Edu. Min. Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah
For many years, the process of obtaining or renewing schools operating permit was done manually, involving paper-based work and often a tedious and cumbersome time-consuming process. Schools (mainly, community private and faith-based) located in remote counties faced delayed, travel costs and uncertainties in getting their permits processed by the Ministry of Education (MOE).
To ameliorate this perennial situation, the MOE recently launch the Digital School Operational Permit Platform, a fast-strike and improved non-paper method for the processing of documents required to obtain or renew schools’ operational permit; thus replacing the defunct manual paper-based work process.
According to MOE authorities, this improved method brings the entire process of obtaining or renewing school operational permits online, ranging from application, review, and approval to the actual issuance of permits; as with just a few clicks schools’ authority can now submit documents, track their application status, and review notifications, from the comfort of their communities.
Those charged with the responsibility to actually operationalize this process are County Education Officers in the 15 counties in concert with schools’ authorities in their assigned locals as well as the Department within the ministry that is established with such functions. This is why beginning this week, selected staff and CEOs will undergo a vigorous in-service “hands-on-training” on how to use this new digital platform as they will serve as first users and technical focal points for the system.
While officially launching the new digital platform, Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah noted that a new chapter of education in Liberia has arrived as the era of long journeys for simple paper work, misplaced files and uncertain writing is officially coming to an end.
Minister Jallah indicated that the replacement of an outdated manual process with a digital platform is not a matter of convenience but rather a demonstration of commitment to good governance and modern public service to showcase a digital handshake between the Ministry of Education and the private school community.
Minister Jallah: “What does this mean to our nation? It means a school principal in Harper, Grand Kru, or a proprietor in Voinjama, and other counties can now apply for and renew their permit from their office in minutes, not months. It means that our County Education Officers can process and verify applications more efficiently; it means that we at the Ministry can maintain a clear, national picture of registered institutions, enabling better oversight, planning and support where it is more needed”.
According to her, the motive of a roll out of the digital platform nationwide is to ensure that ever school operating in Liberia does so legally, transparently, and with the quality standards that protect and empower every learner, adding that this is how we prove that government can be efficient, accountable, and responsive.
Other educational stakeholders also made remarks at the occasion held Thursday at the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Ministries Complex in Congo Town, outside Monrovia.