One Year Later:

One year ago, the 30th June 2025, in Grand Bassa County, Liberia embarked on an ambitious journey. Having enjoyed a national launch by the President of Liberia in August 2024, the county-level launch of the Back to My Classroom Campaign took place, representing the roll out of a national commitment to reach children who had been left behind and reaffirm a simple but powerful principle: every child belongs in school.

Twelve months later, that commitment is as urgent as ever.
Across Liberia, thousands of children remain out of school. Behind every statistic is a child with dreams, talents and enormous potential. Some are held back by poverty. Others live too far from school. Some have disabilities and lack the support they need. Others have never had the opportunity to enroll because they do not have a birth certificate or because their families face daily challenges that make education seem out of reach.

These are not just education challenges. They are challenges of equity, protection, health, nutrition and opportunity.

That is why the Back to My Classroom Campaign continues to stand out. It recognizes that returning a child to school is about much more than opening a classroom door. It requires communities, teachers, parents, health workers, social workers and local leaders working together to remove the barriers that prevent children from learning.

Over the past year, we have seen encouraging signs of this collective commitment. Communities have mobilized. Local authorities have taken ownership. Teachers have welcomed children back into classrooms. Ministries have strengthened collaboration across sectors, recognizing that education outcomes depend on far more than education alone.

This partnership between the Government of Liberia, UNICEF and many dedicated partners demonstrate what can be achieved when institutions unite around children.

The next phase of the campaign is equally important.

As the campaign expands, greater emphasis is being placed on data and accountability. Better information will help identify children who remain out of school, understand why they are excluded and ensure that support reaches those who need it most. This is particularly important for children living with disabilities, girls facing multiple vulnerabilities and children in remote communities.

The goal is not simply to count children returning to school. It is to ensure they remain in school, are supported to learn and have every opportunity to succeed.

Education remains one of the strongest investments any country can make. Every child who returns to the classroom is more likely to enjoy better health, greater economic opportunities and a brighter future. Every additional year of schooling strengthens families, communities and ultimately Liberia's development.

Yet sustaining this progress requires continued commitment from all of us.

Parents must continue to prioritize education, even when circumstances are difficult. Communities must champion every child's right to learn. Development partners must continue investing in quality education systems. Government leadership must remain steadfast in ensuring that every child, regardless of where they live or the circumstances into which they were born, has access to quality learning opportunities.

The Back to My Classroom Campaign reminds us that no child should be forgotten.

One year after its county launch in Grand Bassa, we have reason for optimism. We have seen what is possible when government, communities and partners work together with a shared purpose. But we also know the work is far from finished.

Every child sitting outside a classroom today represents both a challenge and an opportunity.

If we continue working together with determination and urgency, we can ensure that every child has the chance not only to return to school but to thrive there.

Because every child deserves the opportunity to learn. Every child deserves hope. And every child deserves a future built in the classroom.