In Liberia, football stadiums trump defense departments, as I noted in a previous post.
After visiting University of Liberia’s main campus today, I’m less sanguine about the investment in athletic infrastructure. I might have put reconstruction of the nation’s principal University ahead of the stadium.
LU, as it’s called (I haven’t figured out why they don’t call it UL) is woefully oversubscribed and underfunded. Tuition is just $50 a term, in part to make higher learning affordable to the thousands of impoverished but enthusiastic youth. The alternative, as one university administrator pointed out, is to have them on the streets.
A lot of work remains to be done, and I admire the Liberian scholars living and teaching in the U.S. who have returned home to rebuild. Jeannie and I are also thinking about teaching a summer module at LU, as well as thinking how to get some of the faculty and students involved in future research projects. I’m happy to pass on contacts and information to graduate students and faculty interested in doing any of the same.
While the University lags behind the sports stadium, I am happier to see the Justice Ministry moving ahead. The picture is a nice metaphor for the country: “Justice–Under Construction”:
Your approach to public expenditure prioritization seems rather haphazard. I would suggest “Growth Diagnostics (c)”
Dany Roderik
Chris, glad you’re enjoying Liberia!
In fairness to President Sirleaf’s government, the Chinese government (which had built the stadium in the 1980s) paid to have the stadium rebuilt last year. I don’t know if they gave the Liberian government any choice in how to spend the money. Now if only they gave direct budget support instead . . .