Liberia's Education Minister Receives High Honor

Liberia’s Education Minister, Dr. D. Evelyn S. Kandakai has challenged journalists and stakeholders in the education sector to highlight the plight of children who are out of school and girls in distress.

Speaking at her Broad Street office on Wednesday, when the University of Liberia Press Club honored her as "Minister of the Year 2002/2003", Minister Kandakai indicated that though her ministry is working tirelessly to improve the quality of education in the country, it is imperative that Liberians work towards taking children off the streets and show them the path to pursue education and marketable skills for the future.

Minister Kandakai assured Liberians that despite the destruction of educational facilities earlier renovated, she is not discouraged but will rather redouble her efforts to bring quality education to the door-steps of all Liberians irrespective of their location.

Speaking further, the honoree expressed her delight over the honor bestowed on her by the UL Press Club, adding that she has been receiving honors but the one from the UL Press Club is one of the best. She then used the occasion to congratulate the organization and promised to remain forceful to enable that the nation’s educational system is on par with other developing nations.

Speaking earlier, the UL Press Club president, Josephus Moses Gray named the revitalization of Liberia’s education system and the mass literacy program among many other achievements that prompted the honoring of the foremost Liberian female educator.

The UL Press Club president said the honor is in recognition of Dr. Kandakai’s invaluable contributions toward the development of the Liberian educational system and her effort to reduce the high illiteracy rate in the country.

Recounting the numerous and fine achievements of Minister Kandakai, the UL Press Club president said because of the honoree’s love for the country’s educational sector and to impact quality knowledge in the youth of Liberia, Minister Kandakai has traveled throughout the country despite the prevailing adverse security situation in the country.

During the elaborate and well-attended ceremony, Mr. Gray presented a Certificate of Honor to Minister Kandakai in recognition of her achievement, saying that the Ul Press Club could not think of any minister in the country who would have been the best choice for such a historic award.

The occasion brought together officials and staff of the Ministry of Education while officials of the UL Press Club who attended the ceremony include Messrs. Augustus Bobby Fallah, Vice President; Khalifa V. Sheriff, Program Coordinator; Ferricks Diasee, Executive member; Moses M. Zangar, Jr., Secretary-General, Mambu Golafala, Executive member and Albert Jana, Director of Information, Communication and Public Affairs.