A Plea for Primary Education in Liberia

A Plea for Primary Education in Liberia
-A Kids2day! Opinion by K. Abdullai Kamara

Early in December the University of Liberia hosted its 88th Commencement Convocation at the SKD Sports Complex near Monrovia. This commencement saw nearly 2000 persons earning undergraduate and graduate credentials in a wide range of disciplines. This was very exemplary to the mass of Liberian people, because this was the second convocation in a space of 10 months, and there are claims that there will be another convocation by July 2010.Wonderful!

In addition, the activities leading to the convocation was a lot more organized than we have seen in the last 10 or more years. The weeks preceding commencement have normally been tumultuous - to say the least. No wonder, there were claims of grades buying and selling. Without attempting to clarify or confirm the allegations, I would rather proffer that such uncoordinated activities give in to rumor mongering, which could as well be the truth.

However these activities, concern is drawn to the stark statistics of the candidates. While accounting showed some 454 candidates in the face of widespread accountability and transparency concerns in Liberia, there were rather 197 management candidates to at least counter the gross mismanagement of resources in this country. With an economy as challenging as ours, another 145 candidates earned degrees in economics, and we are hoping that they can come forth with the research that will change the circumstances in the country.

But more than that and of most concern was the sad statistics from Teachers College. Of the 50 candidates who earned qualifications in educational related disciplines, 13 earned graduate degrees in educational administration and supervision, 36 earned undergraduate degrees in secondary education and a paltry 2 graduated in primary education. This is frightening and requires some attention. This means that something is wrong and must be corrected, pretty early.
What then could be the cause of this? Do we agree that teachers are significant and necessary for the fulfillment of a role in the education of the Liberian youth? Do we believe that more teachers would relate to an increase in the literacy rate in Liberia, and eventually an increase in the development capacity?

The task of identifying the very poor level of students in education may be numerous, but for the purpose of this work we need to limit to the following:

- the terribly poor state of salaries and emoluments for teachers, both from the government or private sectors;

- limited opportunities for teachers to seek advancement in the educational sphere;

- the lack of accreditation for people who enter the teaching profession;

- widespread parental disapproval of children who want to enter the teaching profession;

- the near poverty that the average teacher is accustomed to; etc.

Furthermore, because teachers have not had any special privileges in Liberia, including the privilege of engaging in wealth-making corruption, people do not encourage, and in fact discourage their children from pursuing teachers’ education. If this trend continues, I predict a day where there will be no teacher with a professional teacher accreditation.

There are limited scholarship opportunities for teachers. Students of education pay like all other students, even though the mainstay of their future employment is a low level government position.

Because there are no accreditation and licensing for teachers in Liberia, nobody wants to study teacher education. In the sad event that they do not get a job in another field, they take a teaching job as a temporary occupation. As a result, someone with a degree in economics or management will be seen teaching economics. Of course, he might shed light on some theory, but with the absence of teaching methodology or pedagogy, this so called teacher will be more interested in the students earning grades than understanding the subject matter. For the primary school level this is a disaster as the pupils will not get any basics.

How do we address this?
Teachers’ education programs must engage students at secondary school level and encourage them to enroll in education program. This can be done through career day programs that will teach the virtues of teaching and indicate how it will serve the future of our country.

The government must insist on the licensing and accreditation of teachers before they are permitted to teach. The examples should begin within the public school sectors. This would not mean driving away all of those without teaching education, but at least providing them beginning level courses that will ensure certification and accreditation for anyone with other qualifications serving as teachers.
Additionally, no new person should is employed to teach in public schools without a teaching certification, which should be concurrently instituted on a full time basis.
Increase salaries and emoluments for teachers, to create a moral incentive that would attract people to teaching. Do we recall that doctors have been given a base salary? Do we know that government lawyers are also given a base salary? Why not teachers?

More than that, government must endeavor to provide free education for people who are endeavoring to provide education for the Liberian children as their career choice. This will be a form of encouragement that will yield greater results for all.
We recall that the Government of Samuel Kanyon Doe as an attempt to increase scholarship in agriculture made studies at the College of Agriculture (UL) tuition-free. While the circumstances of agriculture has not changed much for the better, there is now a source of ready reference on agricultural issues which can sooner or later contribute to the increment in the amount of food on the Liberian table.

The challenge is now upon the government, and I believe that that can happen without changing the case for many other services. Otherwise, we risk sending our kids to Ghana and the US for primary school, and that could translate into another theater of conflict. Already, debate is rife about the perceived domination of foreign-based Liberian professionals in government positions. Of course, Liberia does not deserve any situation that will be based on privilege for one group as opposed to another.
I am hopeful that making room for improving the capacity of people to impart knowledge to the Liberian children would improve the educational fortunes of Liberia.