Ganta city, Nimba county — The USAID-funded Transforming the Education System for Teachers and Students (TESTS) Activity has launched its 7th Faculty and Leadership Professional Development Training on November 11, 2024.
The five-day workshop, running until November 15, will gather key stakeholders from higher education teacher training institutions across Liberia.
The event brought together representatives from the TESTS team, led by Chief of Party, USAID’s Education Director Jana Wooden, and senior officials from the Ministry of Education and the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE).
The training is focusing on building the capacity of selected public, private, and faith-based institutions to enhance teacher training and create an enabling environment for teaching. Partner institutions include the University of Liberia, Cuttington University, African Methodist Episcopal University, Adventist University of West Africa, LICOSESS College of Education, Nimba University, Lofa County University, and Grand Bassa University.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, USAID Education Director Jana Wooden highlighted the significance of the event. She noted that the training demonstrates a strong commitment to improving instructional delivery for early childhood and primary education in Liberia. “While curriculum development is vital, the ability of instructional staff to effectively deliver it is equally important, ” Wooden emphasized.
She commended the RTI and its consortium partners – Mississippi state university (MSU), Inclusive Development Partners (IDP) and Diversified Educators Empowerment Project (DEEP) for organizing the training .
For his part , Dr. Edward Lama Wonkeryor, Executive Director of National Commision on Higher Education (NCHE), expressed profound gratitude to the U.S. government, USAID, and the TESTS program for their continued investment in Liberia’s education sector. He described the workshop as a step toward raising the standards of higher education in Liberia. “This training cultivate a culture of lifelong learning among faculty and leadership, empowering them to meet the evolving needs of students and communities,” he said, urging participants to actively engage in the sessions.
Meanwhile, the president of Nimba University, Dr. Jessie Mongrue also applauded the USAID TESTS program for its substantial contributions to the university. He stressed on key support initiatives, including 175 scholarships for students in early childhood and primary education programs, provision of laptops, internet services, solar panels, graduate study opportunities, and curriculum development.
The training is part of USAID’s commitment to enhancing teaching excellence and strengthening institutional leadership across Liberia’s higher education sector.
