By Jamesetta D. Williams
The Principal of ELWA Academy, Mr. Justyn D.W. Tokeh Jr., has called on parents to become more actively involved in their children’s education, stressing that paying tuition fees alone is not enough to guarantee academic success.
Mr. Tokeh made the call during the school’s 22nd Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2025/2026 and annual academic report presentation held at the ELWA campus, where the institution celebrated the achievements of its young graduates while presenting an overview of students’ academic performance for the 2025–2026 school year.
The principal said the annual report was intended to give parents a clearer understanding of their children’s academic progress, including the number of students promoted, retained, and those required to attend summer school.
He explained that students who fail to meet the required academic average are placed in summer school to improve in the subjects they did not pass before advancing to the next grade level.
According to Mr. Tokeh, while the basic education division recorded encouraging performance, the school continues to face major challenges at the secondary level, where students are exposed to several distractions affecting their academic progress.
He identified excessive cellphone use as one of the major factors contributing to poor performance among junior and senior high school students, urging parents to closely monitor their children’s use of electronic devices.
“Students spend long hours on their phones instead of devoting adequate time to their lessons,” he said.
Mr. Tokeh disclosed that ELWA Academy conducts deficiency notification meetings at the end of every academic quarter to inform parents about their children’s performance and identify possible solutions to academic challenges. However, he expressed concern that some parents fail to attend these important meetings despite repeated invitations.
“We held meetings after the first, second, and third quarters, but some parents never showed up. Failure is not an event; it is a process,” he emphasized.
He encouraged parents to maintain regular communication with teachers, monitor their children’s academic activities, and utilize the school’s open-door policy that allows them to visit classrooms and observe the learning process.
The principal also acknowledged that large class sizes have created challenges for teachers, with some classrooms accommodating more than 60 students. However, he noted that academic success remains possible when students demonstrate commitment and discipline.
Mr. Tokeh revealed that the Grade 10 class recorded the highest number of failures during the 2025–2026 academic year, with 23 students failing and being retained or required to attend summer school. Despite the class’s overall performance challenges, he noted that it produced the school’s top-performing student.
He announced that Karen Missiaque emerged as the First Dux of Grade 10 with an outstanding 95 percent average, describing her achievement as proof that dedication, hard work, and personal commitment can lead to academic excellence.
The principal further cautioned against the practice of students transferring to other schools after failing a grade in an attempt to advance to the next level. He said ELWA Academy provides accurate academic records to institutions requesting transcripts and encouraged schools to verify students’ academic histories before accepting transfer students.
As students begin their vacation, Mr. Tokeh urged parents to ensure that children remain academically engaged through reading, research, enrichment programs, and other learning activities rather than spending the entire holiday on entertainment.
“Vacation should not only be for play. Parents should encourage children to read books, review their notes, participate in enrichment programs, and remain mentally active before the new academic year begins,” he advised.
Responding to concerns about the financial burden on parents whose children are retained, Mr. Tokeh maintained that the school’s focus is to maintain academic standards rather than promote students who are not prepared for the next level.
“It is not about collecting more money. If we promote students who are not academically prepared, we will be failing the country. We want graduates who can compete not only in Liberia but anywhere in the world,” he said.
Highlighting ELWA Academy’s achievements, the principal noted that all of the school’s candidates successfully passed the nine subjects in the previous West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), demonstrating the institution’s commitment to academic excellence.
The ceremony also featured the graduation of the 22nd Kindergarten Class of ELWA Academy, Class of 2025/2026, marking the completion of the students’ first stage of formal education.
Mr. Tokeh congratulated the young graduates, parents, teachers, and administrators for their contributions to the success of the academic year, while urging parents to continue partnering with the school to improve students’ performance in the coming year.
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