By Solomon T. Gaye, Sr.
Center of Excellence, under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, over the weekend, ended the second edition of the Liberia National Teacher Awards and final vetting exercise in Ganta, Nimba County.
The one-week exercise brought together 16 participants, all teachers and administrators, as candidates from Maryland, Nimba, Bong, Lofa, and Rivercess, working with various school systems within the Republic of Liberia.
Speaking to a team of reporters at the John Wesley Pearson campus in Ganta, MCSS Superintendent, Isaac Saye -Lakpoh Zawolo, disclosed that the program is geared towards appreciating the best teachers and school administrators, through a vetting process by Ministry of Education committees, under the watchful eyes of panels, observers, and media groups.
Zawolo explained that the winner of the best teacher award will receive a cash award of one million Liberian dollars, while the best school administrator will receive two million.
According to the Chairman, the winner is expected to be announced by the vetting committees on August 24, 2023.
The vetting exercise was attended by various representatives from CSA, WAEC, NTAL, and media groups, along with other civil organizations in the country, as observers.
During the program, each candidate was given thirty minutes to demonstrate his or her teaching strategies before the committees, panels, observers, and the media groups.
School administrators were given an hour each to summit their comprehensive report and administrative action plan, followed by questions from the education committee and panel.
The ministry of education was represented by Director of Professional Development, Director of Teacher Education, Subject Specialist Curriculum and Textbooks Research, along with CEO of the Montserrado County School System, and CEO of the Nimba County School System.
Speaking on behalf of the teachers, Louis Nyanquo of Bomi thanked the organizers of the program and bringing educators together to award teachers for their hard work.
Speaking on the same issue and on behalf of school administrators, Zayzay Gayflor of Lofa thanked the Ministry of Education for the program geared towards fairly selecting the best teacher and best school administrator.
Speaking on behalf of the CEO of Montserrado County School System, David V. Boakai praised the organizers, citing that the process leading to the exercise was free, fair, and transparent.
Speaking in a separate remark and on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Ansu Sonil disclosed that plans are underway to construct a modern center of excellence, to strengthen the education sector in the country.
