Paynesville – The Deputy Education Minister for Instruction, Alexander Duopue has called on graduates of the Christian University College’s ‘C’ Certificate teacher training program to bring about change in the Liberian school system by implementing what they have learned into their various classrooms and communities.
Serving as the keynote speaker at the certification exercise, Mr. Duopue pledged the government’s commitment to improving the education system.
“Being a man out of the classroom and serving as a Deputy Minister for Instruction at the Ministry of Education, I assure you of the confidence reposed in our team [at the MOE] by President George Weah and that we will work our hardest to ensure that the learning condition of our students are improved,” he pledged.
“We will work from bottom up to make sure your professors and teachers are giving proper training, we will lay a strong foundation for a special future.”
Speaking further, he inspired the teachers to always strive to excel and discover their individual destiny and meet the challenges set before them in order to be the “key that opens the door to a new Liberia.”
He warned there will be several obstacles along the way, but they must stand firm to achieve their goals.
“I must warn you that in seeking to discover your destiny and meeting these challenges, there will be critics and cynics, noise and pressure along the way – all serving as a deterrent. You must stand firm and learn to rise above them all. Do not shrink in the face of challenges. Do not yield to the many impediments and barriers, but instead be resolute, be steadfast and be unyielding. With that, you can be the key that opens the door to a new Liberia. You can change your lives and the lives of your community, your family and nation.”
He thanked the President and faculty of the University and all those who made it possible for the program pledged a full-scale scholarship for people aspiring to study Education and Nursing at the CUC.
Meanwhile, the District Education Officer (DEO) of Greater Monrovia Education District#1D, Charles M. Vonleh has been credited for being instrumental in collaborating with the administration of CUC for the program.
Giving the overview of the program, Mr. Vonleh explained that upon his ascendency to the position, he realized that most of the teachers within his school district did not have the minimum qualification to teach in the classroom.
To address the situation, Vonleh said he made an arrangement with the CUC to launch a comprehensive teacher training program where teachers will have time to attend their normal teaching activities and at the same attend training.
The training firstly recruited 60 high school graduate teachers as a sample size to attend for four days in the week. The training was completed successfully with 55 participants completing and ready to graduate today and contribute to building the human resource capacity of Liberia through education,” he averred.
He noted that there is plan to work with his colleagues and the CUC to extend the programs to other parts of Liberia to build the capacity of teachers and make the classroom viable for learning.
“We have come from the background of working towards pushing the educational agenda of Liberia, one of the pillars of the Pro-Poor Agenda: Power to the People. I believe that Liberia can transition from here to a better and upgraded status if we all acquire education and continue to send all of our children to school for brighter future.”
Meanwhile, the President of CUC, Dr. Henry T. B. Mulbah noted that the institution is open to all Liberians desiring of acquiring tertiary education.
Dr. Mulbah lauded the DEO for the partnership and called on teachers with no formal teacher training to make use of the opportunity.
For their part, the graduates thanked the DEO and the administration for making their certification program a success.
I am so happy to have this certificate. As teachers, we need basic training which was lacking. But through the help of CUC and the DEO, I am now a qualified teacher. The basic classroom management skills and the Child Psychology aspect will help me a lot,” Salome E. Laqua averred.
Alvin G. Flomo added: “My time at the CUC has been a blessing. Classroom management and various teaching methodologies were basic skills that we learned. To get into the classroom without formal training is dangerous for the students and the entire school system of Liberia. Hope our colleagues with no formal training will take advantage of this opportunity.”