ABOUT THE EDUCATION CLUSTER
The Education Cluster brings together Liberian experts across the diaspora to support the Government of Liberia in implementing the Education Pillar of the ARREST Agenda.
Working in partnership with the Ministry of Education and national stakeholders, the Cluster provides:
- Technical expertise
- Policy guidance
- Research support
- Capacity-building assistance
Through coordinated, evidence-based collaboration, the Cluster strengthens Liberia’s education system at every level and advances national development priorities.
MISSION
The Education Cluster mobilizes Liberian experts in the diaspora to support the Government of Liberia in implementing the Education Pillar of the ARREST Agenda.
We collaborate with national institutions to:
- Strengthen policy execution
- Expand equitable access
- Improve instructional quality
- Build system-wide capacity
Our work spans from early childhood education through higher education and workforce development.
VISION
A Liberia where every learner has access to a high-quality, equitable, and globally competitive education system, achieved through:
- Strong government leadership
- Coordinated diaspora expertise
- Collective action to advance national development priorities
STRATEGIC PILLARS — “EDUCATE”
The Education Cluster exists to help EDUCATE Liberia:
E – Equity & Access
Expanding equitable access to quality education for all learners, especially underserved counties, girls, and learners with disabilities.
D – Diaspora–Government Partnership
Providing coordinated technical expertise to support the Ministry of Education and national agencies in implementing the ARREST Agenda.
U – Upgrading Teacher Quality
Strengthening teacher recruitment, training, certification, and continuous professional development.
C – Curriculum, Literacy & Learning Outcomes
Improving foundational literacy and numeracy, modernizing curriculum, and integrating 21st-century skills.
A – Accountability & System Strengthening
Enhancing governance, leadership capacity, data systems, and financial accountability across the education sector.
T – TVET & Workforce Alignment
Expanding technical and vocational pathways aligned with Liberia’s economic priorities and youth employment needs.
E – Educational Innovation & Technology
Promoting scalable digital learning, ICT integration, and innovative models that expand access and improve instruction.
PRIORITY AREAS
- Foundational literacy and numeracy
- Teacher training and certification
- School leadership development
- Early childhood education expansion
- Girls’ education and safe school initiatives
- TVET modernization and youth employability
- Higher education governance and accreditation
- Digital learning and ICT integration
- Inclusive education for learners with disabilities
- Data systems and monitoring
- Community engagement and accountability
Our Aspiration
The Education Cluster aims to become a technical advisory body and thought‑leadership hub that will, over time:
- Study and analyze the root causes of Liberia’s educational challenges
- Develop evidence‑based recommendations for improving learning outcomes
- Support capacity‑building efforts for teachers, school leaders, and education institutions
- Promote innovation and global best practices adapted to Liberia’s context
- Foster partnerships between diaspora experts and Liberian education stakeholders
- Contribute to long‑term policy dialogue and sector strengthening
These aspirations reflect the cluster’s commitment to responsible, non‑political, and development‑focused engagement.
Focus Areas
The cluster intends to focus on the following areas as it becomes fully operational:
- Foundational Learning: Exploring strategies to strengthen early grade literacy and numeracy
- Teacher Development: Identifying pathways to improve teacher preparation and professional growth
- Curriculum Modernization: Studying opportunities to integrate STEM, ICT, and 21st‑century skills
- Governance & Accountability: Supporting improved data systems and quality assurance frameworks
- Equity & Inclusion: Highlighting approaches to expand access for marginalized learners
- Higher Education & Workforce Alignment: Examining ways to strengthen TVET and university quality
What We Do
The Education Cluster focuses on:
- Foundational Learning: Improving early grade literacy and numeracy
- Teacher Quality: Strengthening teacher preparation, certification, and continuous professional development.
- Curriculum Modernization: Integrating STEM, ICT, digital literacy, and 21st‑century competencies.
- Governance & Accountability: Supporting data systems, quality assurance, and transparent resource management.
- Equity & Inclusion: Expanding access for girls, rural learners, children with disabilities, and out‑of‑school youth.
- Higher Education & Workforce Alignment: Enhancing TVET, university quality, and industry‑aligned skills development.
How We Work
The cluster operates as a technical think tank and capacity‑building hub, providing:
- sector analyses and policy recommendations
- training and mentorship for educators and school leaders
- partnerships with Liberian institutions
- diaspora‑driven technical assistance
- research and innovation support
Chairperson:
Dr. Kona Facia Freeman Nepay, Ed.D., Maîtrise, Licence, BA, DSEF
Cluster Chair
Dr. Kona Facia Freeman Nepay
Dr. Kona Facia Freeman Nepay
Dr. Kona Facia Freeman Nepay is a distinguished global education leader whose academic formation spans Africa, Europe, and North America, and whose professional career reflects a sustained commitment to advancing multilingual education and cross-cultural leadership in both Africa and the United States.
She began her tertiary education in 1980, earning the Diplôme Supérieur d’Études Françaises (DSEF) from the Centre Universitaire d’Études Françaises (CUEF) at the University of Abidjan, establishing a strong foundation in French language and culture. She later pursued advanced studies at the Université de Franche-Comté in France, where she earned a Licence ès Sciences du Langage (Bachelor’s in Language Sciences) and a Maîtrise de Français Langue Étrangère (Master of Teaching French as a Foreign Language – MFLE). Dr. Freeman Nepay subsequently earned an Executive Doctorate in Global Education from the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education, completing international fieldwork in Qatar, Hong Kong, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi.
Dr. Freeman Nepay began her professional career in 1984 as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Liberia, following the completion of her undergraduate degree in French and Public Administration. She later returned to serve as an Instructor of French after completing her graduate studies in France, contributing to language education and academic development.
After relocating to the United States, Dr. Freeman Nepay built a distinguished career in public education within Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS). Over the years, she served in multiple leadership roles, including French Immersion Teacher, French Immersion Coordinator, Assistant Principal, and Principal. Through these positions, she contributed significantly to the education and development of thousands of students and was recognized for her leadership and instructional excellence with the 2010–2011 PGCPS Outstanding Educator Award.
In 2006, Dr. Freeman Nepay co-founded Baltimore International Academy, Inc. (BIA, Inc.), where she designed and continues to lead one of the most innovative multilingual immersion and International Baccalaureate (IB) school models in the United States. Across two campuses, BIA operates eight small K–8 schools offering immersion in five of the six official United Nations languages—Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin), Arabic, Russian, and French—alongside English. BIA East has been recognized by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) as an EGATE School for excellence in gifted and advanced learning.
Over the course of more than two decades in educational leadership, Dr. Freeman Nepay has overseen and managed over $200 million in public education funding, demonstrating a strong commitment to accountability, transparency, and institutional excellence. She also played a pivotal role in higher education development as Chair of the founding of Harvest Intercontinental American University (HIAU), where she led the design of its academic framework, governance structure, and long-term institutional vision.
Dr. Freeman Nepay’s leadership has been recognized through numerous prestigious awards, including the 2024 Chevalier des Palmes Académiques (Knight of the Order of Academic Palms), the 2022 American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) Outstanding Administrator Award, the 2021–2022 MSDE Outstanding Local Leadership Award in Gifted and Talented Education, the 2018 RICKS Institute Alumnae Association Excellence in Education Award, the 2015 Liberian Award for Excellence in Education, the 2010–2011 PGCPS Outstanding Educator Award, and the 1999 City of Bowie Excellence in Education Award.
Dr. Freeman Nepay is widely respected for her expertise in global education systems, multilingual immersion program design, International Baccalaureate implementation, and cross-cultural educational leadership. Her career reflects a lifelong dedication to expanding access to high-quality education and preparing students to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.
