MONROVIA: The Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) has taken note of recent allegations suggesting that it abandoned Liberian students studying in the People's Republic of China under the Guizhou Scholarship Program.
In a press statement released on its official Facebook page on Monday, July 6, 2026, MCC noted that the claims are inaccurate, misleading, and fail to reflect the extensive efforts the MCC has made to support the beneficiaries before, during, and after their departure to China.
According the MCC, the Guizhou Scholarship Program was established through the strong partnership between the Monrovia City Corporation and Guizhou Province of the People's Republic of China as part of MCC's commitment to supporting Liberia's Human Capital Development and contributing to the Government of Liberia's ARREST Agenda.
The MCC statement recalled that, on April 15, 2025, the MCC announced five fully sponsored scholarship opportunities at Guizhou University for outstanding residents of Monrovia pursuing studies in Agriculture, Engineering, and Environmental Science.
MCC indicated that the scholarship package clearly covered Full tuition waiver and Full accommodation waiver.
MCC further clarified that the published scholarship requirements clearly informed applicants that the expenses were not covered by the scholarship such as Visa processing fees, Physical examination fees, Comprehensive medical insurance and Registration fees.
According to MCC, five qualified students were selected and are currently enrolled at Guizhou University, where they have successfully completed their first academic year.
MCC pointed out that unfortunately, one student violated both university regulations and Chinese law after being caught stealing from the university dormitory.
MCC said, following a police investigation, CCTV footage confirmed the offense. As a result, the university revoked the student's scholarship and initiated deportation proceedings.
This disciplinary action was solely the decision of the university authorities and was unrelated to the MCC. The remaining four students continue to perform well academically.
The statement stressed that, on May 8, 2025, the MCC secured an additional twenty international scholarships from Guizhou Province for Liberian students to study at Guizhou Normal University and Guizhou Institute of Technology.
The statement noted that, more than 500 Liberians applied for these scholarships through a transparent and competitive process.
Following aptitude examinations and evaluations, the twenty highest-performing applicants were awarded scholarships.
The scholarship conditions were publicly announced from the beginning and included One-year intensive Chinese language program.
The statement further indicated progression to undergraduate degree programs only after successfully passing the HSK Level 4 Chinese Language Examination, Full tuition waiver and Full accommodation waiver.
Importantly, the scholarship did not include any living allowance, and the HSK Level 4 examination requirement was never introduced by the MCC.
It has always been an official academic requirement established by the participating Chinese universities for admission into Chinese-medium undergraduate programs.
The statement said MCC Went Beyond Its Obligations Although payment for the HSK Level 4 examination was not part of MCC's obligations under the scholarship agreement, the Corporation listened to concerns raised by students who indicated they lacked funds to register for the examination.
The noted that, in good faith, and solely to support the students' academic progress, the MCC transferred US$150 to each student to enable them to register for and sit the HSK Level 4 examination.
This financial assistance exceeded the Corporation's responsibilities under the scholarship arrangement.
The statement noted that, some students accepted the funds but deliberately failed to sit for the examination.
Others later informed the MCC that they believed Chinese was too difficult and requested that their degree programs be changed from Chinese to English.
Such requests cannot be accommodated because the scholarship agreement approved by the Chinese institutions specifically requires successful completion of the Chinese Language Foundation Program and passing HSK Level 4 before students can transition into their degree programs.
MCC's Continued Advocacy rather than abandoning the students, the MCC immediately engaged its Chinese partners after students expressed concerns about passing HSK Level 4.
The Corporation formally requested that the universities extend the language foundation program by an additional year to allow students more time to improve their Chinese proficiency.
The MCC statement noted that, the universities explained that, the scholarship only finances one year of Chinese language training and any additional year would fall outside the scholarship agreement.
The statement said any extension would therefore require full financial payment. despite this response, the MCC continued negotiations to secure a reasonable arrangement that would enable affected students to continue their studies.
These negotiations demonstrate the Corporation's commitment to finding solutions rather than abandoning beneficiaries.
Students were fully Informed before departure prior to departure, the MCC established an official communication platform for all scholarship recipients.
The statement said within this platform every scholarship condition was shared.
University requirements were explained.
The HSK Level 4 requirement was clearly communicated.
The statement said Students were encouraged to carefully review all conditions and they were also repeatedly invited to raise questions or concerns before accepting the scholarships.
No beneficiary objected to these scholarship conditions before traveling to China.
It is therefore inaccurate to suggest that students were unaware of the language requirements after arrival, MCC clarified
The MCC has also received several official communications from both Guizhou Institute of Technology and Guizhou Normal University expressing concern over the academic conduct of some students.
According to the universities:
Some students failed to attend classes regularly while others maintained poor attendance records and that such conduct violates university regulations and jeopardizes scholarship eligibility.
Some students perform excellently
These reports were communicated directly by the universities and are independent of the MCC.
MCC cannot alter scholarship conditions
It is important to emphasize that the Monrovia City Corporation is not the scholarship provider.
The scholarships are awarded by educational institutions and authorities in Guizhou Province under clearly established academic regulations.
The MCC serves as a facilitating institution that identifies qualified applicants, coordinates communication, and provides support where possible. The corporation does not possess the authority to remove the HSK Level 4 requirement.
The statement said convert Chinese-medium scholarships into English-medium programs
waive university academic regulations, override disciplinary decisions made by Chinese universities.
The statement said, the allegation that the Monrovia City Corporation abandoned students in China is both unfair and unsupported by the facts.
On the contrary, the MCC has consistently demonstrated its commitment, successfully securing twenty-five international scholarships for Liberian students.
The MCC statement added that conducting a transparent and merit-based selection process and maintaining continuous communication with students and also Providing additional financial assistance beyond its contractual obligations by paying US$150 to each student for the HSK Level 4 examination.
The statement said engaging Chinese partner institutions to seek possible extensions for struggling students continuing negotiations despite not being legally obligated to do so.
While the MCC remains committed to supporting Liberian students, scholarship recipients also have a corresponding responsibility to comply with the academic requirements, attendance policies, and conditions of the scholarships they voluntarily accepted.
The Corporation will continue working with its Chinese partners in the best interest of all students while respecting the academic regulations governing these international scholarship programs.
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