The Ministry of Education has approved a new Liberian history book titled ‘Liberty Hijacked’ the History of How the Loss of Liberty Divides Liberia for use in Liberian schools at the high school level.
Speaking during the lunch of the book at the Interior Printing House in Monrovia last Wednesday, the Executive Directive for Excellence for Curriculum and Textbooks at the Education Ministry, Julia K. Sandiman-Gbeyai, said that the approval of the book is essential to provide a well-documented and researched history to Liberian high school students.
The Executive Director’s assertion reinforces an approval letter the Ministry of Education sent to Author Kai G. Wleh on November 18, 2022.
The Executive Director lauded the author, award-wining journalist and educator, Kai G. Wleh, for his research that resulted in the writing and publishing of the book in Liberia.
Mrs. Gbeyai, who is also a member of the West African Examination Council said that she will advance proposals to his colleagues to include questions on the Liberian segment from the book in the WEAC high school examinations on history.
She recognized how the publication of the Liberty Hijacked is significant in bridging the gap in the lack of a comprehensive Liberian history book. Mrs. Sandiman-Gbeyai, encouraged all Liberian high schools to use the book and used the launching of the book to extend invitation to the author and the Liberian Representative of Liberty Hijacked to attend the upcoming Principals Association meeting to further explain the importance of using the book in Liberian schools at the high school level.
Earlier, Award-winning journalist Wleh who provided an overview of his book through virtual broadcast from Philadelphia through the Liberia Public Radio/TV, said the book represents his most important contribution to the Liberian students.
Mr. Wleh emphasized that his book is “an academic work that is based on primary sources that were never published,” in the systematically, independently, comprehensively, in our generation and in the past.” The author stated that the book offers Liberian students and readers a new perspective in a more balanced, comprehensive, and methodological manner never seen before in Liberian academia.
The author said that he brough his solid academic background, unchallenged integrity, independence, and analytical skills to the book.
He encouraged Liberian educators and students to support the book by purchasing more copies to help reduce the current cost of the book which is US$10 or its equivalent in Liberian dollars so that it reaches the rural segments of the country.
Making remarks during the program, former Posts and Telecommunications Minister and Acting Vice president for Academic Affairs at the Cuttington University Graduate School observed that the book meets the requirement to be taught at the undergraduate and Graduate Levels.
Mr. Jayjay disclosed plans to teach the book in his Liberian Politics and History class at the Cottington University Graduate School.
He urged Liberians and Liberian students to read the book because there have been several deliberate misrepresentations of the Liberian history and Liberty Hijacked presents an important effort to correct that.
Also in remarks, Prof. Isaac SayeZawolo, Superintendent of the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS) lauded the author for his book which he considered a major contribution to Liberia and Liberian schools.
Prof. Zawolo affirmed his support to the book and shared his long-standing ties with the author for several decades both in the student leadership at the University of Liberia and in the Liberian Community in Washington, DC.
Superintendent Zawolo expressed and reaffirmed the teaching of Liberty Hijacked in Liberian school including the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS).
The Director of Consumer Affairs at the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), Isaac Yonly, depicted the book as a work of a scholar and a man of impeachable integrity who values the truth and an objective mind.
Mr. Yonly served as Chairman of the Student Integration Movement (SIM) before joining the Liberian Government in the early 1990s as Assistant Minister of Information. He pinpointed the courage of Mr. Wleh to write such an analytically piece of academic work that stands to put the Liberian history in its proper perspective in correcting our country’s history.
The Specialist on Curriculum Development at the Ministry of Education who also made remarks observed that Liberty Hijacked contains well-documented and balanced history of Liberia that make it a must read for every Liberian student.
He thanked Mr. Wleh for his scholarly work and deep love for improving the provision of this most valuable history of Liberia.
Also in remarks, Mr. Dennis Toe said that he had been in discussion with Mr. Wleh since publishing Liberty Hijacked and was glad to receive an invitation to attend the lunch of the book.
He pledged to buy copies of the book for his school library and to use the book to train Liberian teachers at his college.
The author thanked Mrs. Sandiman-Gbeyai for performing the book launching ceremony and all those in attendance for honoring the Liberty Hijacked team’s invitation.
