By Emmanuel Koffa
Barclayville, Grand Kru County—Two government run school, George Toe Washington Elementary School and the Joseph Blamoh Toe Junior High School in Barclayville, have benefited from modern reading rooms from KEEP Liberia, marking a significant milestone in their educational journey.
The facilities, constructed and funded by KEEP Liberia, aim to strengthen students’ reading abilities and promote a culture of literacy among school-aged children. KEEP Liberia addresses Liberia’s inequality gap by advocating for literacy and equity in education, human rights, and resource access.
This is the first time the two institutions have benefited from such educational support since their establishment in the early 1900s, according to KEEP Liberia official statistics.
Speaking on Thursday, October 30, 2025, during the dedication ceremony held on the campuses of the two schools, Mrs. Brenda Brewer Moore, Chief Executive Officer of KEEP Liberia, said the initiative was inspired by the alarming decline in reading skills among Liberian students.
She explained that KEEP, which stands for Kids Educational Engagement Project, launched the program following a national survey that revealed that out of over 2,000 schools across Liberia, only about 100 have functional reading or science laboratories. This, she noted, has contributed to students’ poor academic performance.
Mrs. Moore further emphasized that the initiative forms part of KEEP Liberia’s broader effort to promote comprehensive reading and literacy skills within the country’s educational system.
She called on parents, teachers, and students to take ownership of the facilities by ensuring regular maintenance.
KEEP Liberia official disclosed that the design and construction of the two mini reading laboratories cost approximately US$20,000, excluding the cost of books and other educational materials.
The administrations of both schools expressed deep gratitude to KEEP Liberia for the intervention and pledged to maintain the facilities. They assured the donors of their commitment to improving students’ reading performance.
