To Revamp, Transform Liberia’s Educational Sector: US Experts Recommend Key Intervention Areas

By Bill W. Cooper
A team of U.S-based educational experts have identified strategic intervention areas in a drive to further strengthen and improve Liberia’s education system following an assessment visit to the Country in 2024.
The highly experienced US-based educators, led by Stephen Zipkes, expressed their optimism and passion to help make timely interventions for the betterment of the sector and the country’s students in general.
In a move to get on the path with the 21st-century educational system, the team has submitted a more practical, advanced and up-to-date road map plan and proposal to the Government to help drive transformation within the sector.
The US-based experts, however, endeavor to help transform the sector through an adequate and hands-on preparation of Liberian teachers, changing the pedagogy and curriculum preparation and reform.
According to the team, they have already designed an application specifically for Liberia’s curriculum that is unique and meets current-day reality, coupled with a well-packaged, comprehensive and delivered plan.
Zipkes, on behalf of the team, named enhanced counselling for Liberian students, emotional learning, drug counselling and student agency, among others, as key areas of intervention under their plan to help transform the sector for the better.
He notes that their well-designed, crafted and practical plan if accepted by the government, would work using all of their skills and expertise to ensure that the 40% of Liberians who are out of school number drastically diminished.
On both higher education and from primary to secondary levels, Zipkes further stressed that they will provide best practices of 21st-century skills training to meet the desired objectives, adding, “We intend to empower educators in Liberia who will train others across Liberia.”
Also, a member of the team, Ariel Taylor narrated that collectively, they can work to redefine what is possible for Liberia’s educational sector, and maintained, “We will create a pathway to bring students back to school and to ensure that they keep in school.”
She further emphasized the importance of girls having access to quality and inclusive education, coupled with a safe and conducive learning environment, and maintained, “Inclusive education will foster a structural and equitable community for all, especially with females.”
For his part, a Liberian young professor based in the US and teaches at the Huston Tillotson University in the Department of Kinesiology, Bill Rogers, has been instrumental in the guest educator’s drive to transform the sector.
Bill further called on the government, through the Ministry of Education, to do more to improve the sector to help prepare the youths, who are normally referred to as Liberia’s future leaders through global competition.
He noted that the process has been a bit slow. As such, there is a need for robust and practical action and approach from the Ministry of Education to roll out such a program for students.
According to him, every country’s future relies heavily on its education system, particularly in preparing future generations, thereby encouraging actors in the sector to establish an active, safe, productive, and sustainable education system that inspires learning and fosters job creation for the youth.
Rogers added that there are highly skilled educators ready to assist Liberia and urged actors in the sector to be willing to seize said key opportunity, adding that it is time to make maximum use of the golden opportunity and not to allow it to be wasted.