GANTA, NIMBA CO: At least eight universities and colleges that have Teachers Colleges out of several Universities and colleges across the Country have benefited from five-day Curriculum Development and Harmonization Technical workshop.
The workshop was attended by working group members for Early Childhood Education and Primary Education Bachelor’s Degree Programs. The seminar took place at the Jackie Resort Hotel in Peace Community in Ganta, Nimba County.
The training was organized by the United States Agency For International Development (USAID), under a project, titled: “Transforming The Education System For Teachers And Students In Liberia ( TESTS).”
The universities and colleges that offer degrees in education that benefited from the training are the followings: University of Liberia ( UL), African Methodist Episcopal University, Lofa County University, Grand Bass University, LICOSESS College of Education, Cuttington University ( CU), Adventist University of West Africa, Nimba University amongst others.
The training aims to capacitate faculty members and leaders in the Colleges to implement and monitor a new, evidence- based Curriculum in Early Childhood Education ( ECE) and Primary Education ( PE).
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Faculty and Leadership Professional Development ( FLPD) Training, Deputy Minister of Education for Instructions at the Ministry of Education, Amos Armah Fully, extended thanks to the United States Agency For International Development (USAID) Transforming The Education System For Teachers And Students in Liberia.
He referred to the sector as being in crisis, thus triggering the need for its improvement.
Deputy Minister Fully stated that ” amongst numerous achievements outlined, I’ am inclined to highlight a few of these achievements which are not just outstanding achievement made by the project, but a deliberate intend to strengthen our education system”.
He explained that on May 28,2024, TESTS completed a full curriculum package of 16 general college requirements and one of the four National Commission on Higher Education Core Education Courses.
He added that such achievement is aimed at the attainment of the Associate and Bachelor degree in Early Childhood and Primary Education, as the project is working with 40, out of 56 targeted demonstration schools which have been equipped with the necessary teaching materials and aids.
Deputy Minister Fully referred to it as the sole purpose of enhancing the experience of teacher aspirants and supporting them during their practicums and long-term internships.
Minister Fully disclosed that the USAID-TESTS project has sponsored Eight faculty with one from each of the Eight Higher Education Teacher Training institutions (HETTI) piloting this curriculum.
According to him, the USAID-TESTS project has also provided 10 International scholarships, one from each of the partnering institutions including Ministry of Education, National Commission on Higher Education and the Eight Higher Education Teacher Training institutions ( HETTI) to contribute to system strengthening, sustainability and effective monitoring and evaluation.
” Together with a Gender Equity and social inclusion task force, TESTS developed a Diversity, Equity and inclusion (DEI) policy approved by the National Commission on Higher Education ( NCHE).
This is expected to be launched in Early August of 2024. Currently, the project has agreed to sponsor two officials of the Ministry of Education, Particularly from the Center of Excellence for teacher Licensing and school Accreditation, for a study tour in Ghana in early July this year.
The objective is to learn from the experience of how Ghana has implemented teacher Licensing “.
Deputy Minister Fully disclosed that the USAID TESTS project has awarded 1,540 Scholarships to eight (8) Universities to obtain either as Associate degree or Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood or Primary Education, while 906 females and 634 males have been awarded scholarships.
Minister Fully told the gathering that curriculum will shortly enable Higher learning institutions in the Country to focus on the same lessons across the Country thereby allowing students to enroll from one institution to another without demanding for documents and also reject any of those courses.
Deputy Executive Director for planning, Development and Research at the National Commission on Higher Education, Reginald S.Z Mehnpaine, urged the various institutions to utilize the knowledge from the session to upgrade their institutions performances in the classrooms. He called on the participants from the Eight Universities and colleges to consider inclusive education as a necessity.
He emphasized that inclusive education calls for providing access to educational opportunities to people with disabilities and ensuring that they are treated with equity at the institution.
” Considering the significance of this, We like to call on all higher education institutions in Liberia to ensure learning environments that are inclusive and free of discrimination, he added “.
He pledged the National Commission on Higher Education ( NCHE) commitment in working with various Higher learning institutions to help improve the Education System in the Country.
Also Speaking, Liana Gertsch , Chief of Party, USAID TESTS project, And Julie A. Sims, who is also Project Manager, Mississippi State University, extended thanks and pledge their continue support towards the education sector in Liberia.
” USAID Transforming the Education System for teachers and students in Liberia ( TESTS) is deeply appreciative to the Higher Education Teacher Training institutions (HETTI) for the collaborative work with Mississippi State University ( MSU) and Inclusive Development Partners ( IDP) on the development of the Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Primary Education ( PE) Associate Degree Programs.
According to them, Mississippi State University ( MSU), Inclusive Development Partners ( IDP) and the Higher Education Teacher Training institutions ( HETTI) faculty serving on the various technical working groups ( TWGs) have developed 38 Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Primary Education (PE) curriculum documents that have been reviewed by the curriculum Revision Boards and approved by the National Commission on Higher Education for implementation.
They emphasized that USAID- Transforming the Education System for teachers and students ( TESTS) is also grateful to the leadership of the Higher Education Teacher Training institutions ( HETTI), Deans of the College of Education, and the faculty for the support of the TESTS activity toward the Early Childhood Education ( ECE)and Primary Education (PE) degree programs development toward improving the Education System in the Country.
TESTS Technical Director M. Mator M.F. Kpangbai joined the USAID TESTS family to called on the participants to make impact in the education sector in the Country.
The participants, Alphanso Wright From the University of Liberia ( UL) called on the eight Universities that benefited from the USAID TESTS project to get involved with the various high schools across the Country to focus on impacting those Students before they can enroll at the various higher learning institutions across the Country. It will help to impact the lives of the students.
Alphanso Wright statement has been supported by several speakers including Dr.Cecelia Cassell,Dean, William V.S.Tubman College of Education, University of Liberia, Dr.Amanze Charles Ihedioha of the Cuttington University,Bobson Bleh from the Africa Methodist Episcopal University Lofa County University vice president Dr. Morlu Korsor and the Nimba University family pledged their continue support toward improving the Education System in Liberia.
