By Bill W. Cooper
Education Minister, Ansu D. Sonii says only 9th graders who will pass the two major subjects during the next academic year administered West African Examination Council (WEAC) exams will be allowed promotion to the 10th grade.
Minister Sonii among other things stated that his leadership is building what he called a platform of education that will be very irreversible by his successors in the future and as such, the schools under the supervision of the MoE will not promote any student who according to him is not ready for the senior high division.
The Education Minister made the disclosure yesterday at his MoE office in Congo Town when he officially launched the US$ 1 million stimulus package for private schools’ teachers as the government own way of identifying with them during these critical times.
According to him, the MoE will also introduce in both private and public institutions what he termed as a 3rd grade WAEC so as to enable schools start early preparations for students aimed at making them stronger for future public exams.
He however further disclosed that the MoE will soon reintroduce Civics in the National Curriculum stating, “I do not know who removed it and for what purpose or reason they did it, but all I can say is that very soon, students will start leaning Civics in schools again.”
He wondered, “I am still thinking why Civics was removed from our curriculum because learning Civics helps every citizen understand his or her constitutional rights; culture and values, among other things.”
Meanwhile, the government through the MoE has begun to credit the accounts for about 4,395 private schools’ teachers and disclosed that some teachers have begun receiving theirs as of yesterday as US$ 45 million have been spread out through their Mobile Money accounts from the US$1 million promised by President George M. Weah recently across the country.
Minister Sonii acknowledged the various teachers’ services rendered in impacting knowledge to Liberians students, stressing, “Teaching is a profession of sacrifice and not enjoyment and your work today will definitely pay for you tomorrow.”
Giving the overview of the US$ 1m stimulus package earlier, the MoE Financial Comptroller, Augustine G. Goe, said in fulfillment of President Weah’s promised, the MoE constituted a committee comprising of MoE, Ministry of Finance, Internal Audit Agency (IAA), Civil Service Agency (CSA) and National Teachers Association of Liberia (NTAL) so as to conduct the validation in ensuring that the fund is being paid to the intended beneficiaries.
According to him, the payment which starts today will only be paid to legitimate private schools’ teachers with valid National Identification Card numbers and the confirmation that the candidate has a valid and registered Mobile Money number that is registered to the candidate’s name so as to avoid public schools’ teachers from double dipping.
He added that the next phase was to release various publications, informing the public on mode of operations that is sharing the criteria and timeline for applications, averring, “The committee published its first circular on October 12, 2020 and allow three months for submissions; giving enough time to have private-schools’ teachers complete their submission.”
In separate remarks, the Deputy Finance Minister for Economic Planning, Augustus Flomo and the National Teachers Association of Liberia (NTAL) president, Mary Mulbah all expressed their delight for the launching stating that though many thought the payment of the money wouldn’t have been possible amidst the coronavirus pandemic.