MONROVIA, Liberia – Teach For Liberia has graduated 15 members of Cohort 5 after they completed the organization’s intensive two-year teaching fellowship, adding a new group of trained educators and education leaders to Liberia’s teaching workforce.

The ceremony brought together graduates, alumni, education stakeholders, partners, and government representatives to celebrate the fellows’ achievements and reaffirm a shared commitment to quality and equitable education for every Liberian child.

“This graduation is not the end of your journey – it is the beginning of a greater responsibility. You are teachers first.”

– Dr. Zuleku Dauda, speaking on behalf of the Teach For Liberia Board of Directors

Dr. Dauda urged the graduates to remember that, regardless of the positions they may hold in the future, the classroom remains a place where lives are transformed and futures are built.

The graduates completed extensive preparation in classroom management, curriculum development, instructional planning, leadership, professional ethics, child-centered learning, and foundational teaching skills. Most are already serving as classroom teachers, with many assigned to schools in Montserrado County and others working in different parts of Liberia.

Teach For Liberia currently partners with 56 schools across 10 counties, where 77 active fellows are serving during the current academic year. Fellows are deployed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education to schools where their skills are most needed, including underserved communities.

A Call to Lead by Example

Delivering the keynote address, Saywalla Simeon Jallah Sr., Head of the Bureau of Teacher Education at the Ministry of Education, commended Teach For Liberia for maintaining high standards as an accredited teacher training institution and praised the graduates for their dedication, sacrifice, and commitment to the profession.

“It is with great honor and great respect that I thank you for the dedication and the hard work that you have put forward,” Jallah told the graduates, urging them to apply their training with integrity, professionalism, and excellence.

He challenged the new alumni to become transformational leaders in their schools and communities. “As graduates, you are expected to be role models and leaders,” he said. “Your commitment to education demonstrates your dedication to improving the lives of children and strengthening our nation’s education system.”

Jallah described teaching as one of society’s most consequential professions because of its influence on future generations. “As educators, you are called to lead by example, meet the needs of your learners, and continue growing professionally throughout your careers,” he added.

Teaching as a Lifelong Responsibility

Dr. Dauda congratulated the graduates for the resilience they demonstrated throughout the fellowship and reminded them that their influence would extend far beyond the subjects they teach.

“Whatever you become tomorrow, remember that every leader begins with a teacher,” she said. “Stand before your students with pride, knowing that your words, your actions, and your character will inspire the next generation.”

She urged the graduates to carry the values of service, leadership, and excellence into every classroom and to remain advocates for educational equity by reaching each learner with compassion, professionalism, and purpose.

“As you return to your schools and communities, remember that your greatest impact will not only come from the lessons you teach but from the example you set every day,” Dr. Dauda added.

A Rigorous Path into the Classroom

Admission to the Teach For Liberia fellowship is highly competitive. Applicants must possess at least a bachelor’s degree and complete a multi-stage selection process designed to assess academic ability, resilience, communication skills, leadership potential, and critical thinking.

Chief Executive Officer Alicia-Ann Caesar said the organization received 981 applications this year, but only 115 applicants advanced to the Summit Institute, Teach For Liberia’s intensive pre-service training program.

“Some applicants performed very well on the written assessments but were not invited for interviews because the overall evaluation considered multiple factors,” Caesar explained.

Successful candidates begin with a six-week pre-service Summer Institute, receiving instruction six days a week across approximately 56 training modules. The modules cover teaching methodology, classroom management, curriculum delivery, leadership development, child-centered learning, and professional ethics.

Once they enter the classroom, fellows continue to receive monthly coaching, mentoring, and professional development for the remainder of the two-year fellowship. Secondary school fellows work toward the B Certificate, while elementary school fellows qualify for the C Certificate.

Teach For Liberia operates both as a non-governmental organization and as an accredited private teacher training institution recognized by Liberia’s Ministry of Education. Through its membership in the global Teach For All network, fellows also access international learning opportunities, online professional development, and specialized training, including climate education and climate leadership.

Promoting Gender Equity and Educational Access

Gender equity remains a central priority in Teach For Liberia’s recruitment and placement strategy. Approximately 60 percent of fellows are women, following a deliberate policy introduced with Cohort Three to increase female representation in classrooms.

Caesar said the presence of more female teachers gives girls visible role models and can encourage their participation and retention in school. “You cannot be what you cannot see,” she said.

Fellows currently serve in counties including Montserrado, Grand Gedeh, Maryland, Bomi, and Lofa, as well as other parts of the country. Placements are determined in coordination with the Ministry of Education rather than selected by fellows, enabling the organization to direct trained teachers to schools facing the greatest needs.

A Community Beyond Graduation

Dr. Dauda encouraged the graduates to remain engaged with the Teach For Liberia alumni network, continue supporting one another, and advance the organization’s mission beyond the formal fellowship period.

“You are now part of something much bigger than yourselves. Teach For Liberia does not end with graduation. It is a lifelong community of leaders committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to receive an excellent education.” – Dr. Zuleku Dauda

Since its establishment in 2019, Teach For Liberia has continued to recruit, train, and support aspiring education leaders committed to improving learning outcomes for Liberian children. Organization officials say the fellowship is designed not only to prepare effective classroom teachers, but also to develop leaders who can help transform Liberia’s education sector and advance educational equity nationwide.