Africa-Press – Liberia. Jim Wright, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director to Liberia, has underscored the need for trained, qualified and motivated teachers that would impact the lives and provide better education for Liberians.
Mr. Wright said Liberia needs teachers who can share ideas and not take them for granted. “Teachers have the most impact in the lives of young people and we need teachers to inspire our students,” he said.
He made these remarks at the official launch of USAID ‘Transforming the Education System for Teachers and Students in Liberia’ (TESTS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the National Commission on Higher Education. TESTS is a USAID program that is intended to be used in eight selected universities and colleges including the University of Liberia, Cuttington University, AME University, Adventist University of West Africa, Grand Bassa Community College, Lofa Community College, Nimba Community College and LICOSSES to help overhaul the sector with more emphasis on early childhood education.
The USAID Mission Director for Liberia, who delivered a special statement at the launch of the program, said the launch of the TESTS program will build on the gains made on USAID’s previous teachers training program by training about 3,500 teachers from Liberian schools.
Mr. Wright said it represents USAID’s continuing commitment to ensuring that Liberian children receive education that can only be provided by competent and trained teachers.
“Ensuring trained teachers for Liberian schools requires the commitment of all stakeholders in the Liberian education system,” he added. “We commend the government for increasing the budget for the education sector to US$87.9 million in the 2022 draft national budget.”
Mr. Wright said he was very delighted to join everyone to launch the TESTS program, stressing that the US government is investing hugely in the education sector in Liberia. According to him, thousands of teachers have been trained in the last decades, particularly for primary school level, and millions of reading materials created and distributed across the country.
“Thanks to these efforts, hundreds and tens of thousands of students are benefiting from better access to quality education. Transforming the Education System for Teachers and Students in Liberia is another important investment in improving Liberia’s education system,” Mr. Wright said.
He said both the US and the Liberian governments recognized the priority in education to improve people’s lives by increasing incomes, providing the skills needed to pursue their dreams and contribute to the development of their communities and their country.
Mr. Wright said, “Most importantly, we must ensure that the transformative opportunity is shared equally and set and done and it’s important to see the challenges affecting lives. We need adequate school buildings, good curriculum, excellent administrators and above all, we need trained, qualified and motivated teachers.”
Giving the overview of the program, Dr. Lisa Deyo, Chief of Party of USAID/TESTS, told the gathering that the American Government, through USAID, is trying to help Liberia to improve the quality, targeting early childhood and primary teachers’ institutions delivery.
She said TESTS is a consortium of four partners including RTI International as prime; Mississippi State University, Inclusive Development Partners, and Diversified Education Empowerment Project. “We are partners to the Ministry of Education, National Commission on Higher Education, and the Ministry of Gender,” Dr. Deyo said.
She further stated that TESTS, which was launched on Wednesday, February 23, is expected to work in the public, private, and faith based higher education teacher training institutions in six counties including Bong, Grand Bassa, Lofa, Margibi, Montserrado and Nimba Counties.
“A core belief and our aim is partnership with the Ministries and these institutions to strengthen the continued support for associates and bachelor degree students from their enrollment to their experiences in the classroom and practical experiences in demonstration schools and on to their deployment in schools as newly graduated professionals,” Dr. Deyo said.
The USAID/TESTS Chief of Party added that the launch of TESTS can support the government in three core intermediate results which, among other things, include quality teaching, inclusive education and equitable access, improved enabling environments for associate and bachelor’s students teaching in demonstration schools.
For his part, Minister Ansu Sonii, who officially declared the TESTS program launched, expressed delight at the United States Government through USAID for the continuous support given to the people of Liberia.
Minister Sonii said TESTS will be a great help to Liberia in improving the educational sector, “We are grateful to USAID for the help. The people of Liberia remain grateful for the many support from the American Government to Liberia.”
Meanwhile, remarks were also made by the Senate Chairman on Education and House Chair on Education, Prince K. Moye and Mariama Fofana, respectively, pledging their unflinching support to the improvement of the educational system of Liberia, among others.
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