Monrovia – In the last decade Liberia’s educational system suffered
Report by Kennedy L. Yangian, kl.yangian@frontpageafricaonline.com
Stakeholders have identified some of these challenges as poor learning condition for students, lack of trained teachers and low salaries for teachers among others.
In the wake of these challenges, the United States Agency For International Development (USAID) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education on Wednesday, 12 December 2018 launched ‘Read Liberia’ at the Monrovia City Hall.
The event brought together several stakeholders of the country’s educational system.
The primary objective of the program is to improve the early grade reading skills of Liberian students in first and second grades. The program will be achieved through a strategy of developing and training teachers, according to USAID.
It will also focus on making books accessible to students and families and address behavior practices that are prohibitive to early grade reading.
In addition to early reading for grades 1 and 2, the program will pilot test emergent literacy skills for Liberian students in public kindergarten schools in six targeted counties, Bong, Nimba, Lofa, Margibi, Grand Bassa and Montserrado Counties.
According to USAID, the Read Liberia Activity is the agency’s newest collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MOE) since 2008. USAID has worked with MOE to design and implement robust education strategic frame work in the past.
During the event, USAID Mission Country Director Dr. Anthony Chan and a proxy of Education Minister Alton Kesselly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Giving the overview of the of project, Assistant Minister of Education for Secondary Education Felecia Doe Sumah indicated that the program will target 1, 280 pupils in public schools in the six targeted counties.
“I will not tell you why six counties stand to benefit from this program because some of these decisions are above us,” said Assistant Minister Sumah.
Assistant Minister Dominic Kwene also outlined teachers’ profile of the program.
Meanwhile, USAID Mission Director Dr. Anthony Chan reiterated that the program is good for the country because it sets the foundation for education as USAID and the Ministry of Education have designed and implemented several reading interventions, Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) plus Activity and Liberia Teacher Training Projects (LTTP) I and II
“Let me say that USAID had worked with the Ministry of Education in setting up this program that will set the foundation for education in the country” Dr. Chan.
According to USAID boss, early reading is important because education is a core pillar for development and that since the civil conflict ended in 2003, Liberia has moved from a time of recovery and reconstruction to a time of inclusive growth and wealth creation. He added that education has the vital role in increasing the potential of students’ ability to achieve and participate in the growth of the nation.