Learning is challenging conditions

What environment do kids in your community learn from? As you are still at it, take a look at this photo. It’s an aerial view of an elementary school in Monrovia, Liberia. I took it on one my interaction with Liberian educators and students.

In case the photo does not show it well. Three classes are using a hall less than 30 x 60 meters at the same time. They are separated by cupboards but because the partitions don’t connect to the ceiling or create a wall to wall effect, the noise level in the hall is striking. I spent at least 30 minutes within the hall, moving between classrooms and wondering how kids were able to filter their teachers’ instructions from those of the class behind the partition. Each class was learning something different and at some point requiring group response – a.k.a. chorus answers. I noticed that teachers had to strike a balance between speaking loud enough for their students to hear while not interrupting the next class. Well, despite such difficult learning conditions, students were very enthusiastic and excited to learn. They enjoyed learning and constantly asked questions. I was humbled.

In fact, I left the school wondering how different learning outcomes would have been if only the students had a better learning environment. Bravo to the teachers for all the work.

Open telecentres - better view

This is even a better angle to understand the "open telecentres" in Monrovia. I am sure it responds well to the reader who asked me how popular this model is around Monrovia. The photo also shows the variety of technologies and possible services - helps us to appreciate the location and organization of these telecentres.

open telecentres in Liberia

A few weeks ago, I retold the story of an open, mobile telecentre in Monrovia. Yes, the one which moved when it rained heavily. I have since found several other locations with this brand. Makes me think: "telecentres Liberian style". Frankly, if you were to remove the cost of infrastructure (walls, roof, doors etc) telecentre services for all by year -- (fill in your choice) should be achievable a few years early. With internet access via GSM, clients should be able to surf too! Food for thought within the telecentre.org community.

Telecentres - pushing the boundary 2

I returned to the telecentre in Monrovia on a rainy day to checkout how my new-found innovator was coping. This is what I found. And he was spot-on. The equipment had been taken away save the power generator, which was sheltered under an umbrella. There you are!

Oasis of knowledge in the in-city Monrovia

I spent the day at the WE-CARE Foundation and met the staff and teacher trainers. WE-CARE’s Mike Weah walked me through the history of the foundation, its priorities and linkages across the education sub-sector. From a small community based effort, the foundation has positioned itself as key player in educational instructional reforms in Liberia. With the Liberia Teacher Training Program (LTTP) taking the lead on much of the core teacher training activities albeit with support from USAID, Mike understands that the country is in urgent need of local capacity to innovate and drive educational reforms; strengthen instructional training and support.

Reading Liberia trainers have already delivered a training workshop at the invitation of LTTP. Another similar workshop is scheduled in which ten lead teacher trainers will be involved in two workshops over the next five days. Sixty teachers in all will be trained on how to use new instructional approaches for reading and writing in Liberian classrooms.

At the library, I noticed the majority of users are young people – in high schools or colleges. I sought to know why from a few users. One young man told me the library has the books he needs and the location [on the main street of in-city Monrovia] is convenient. WE-CARE confirms that most schools don’t have a library nor is there a national public library. Although the space is perfect the library doesn’t have near to core stock. That goes to illustrate the scope of the challenge students’ face in Monrovia. The library can do with more – a lot more books on topical issues. I understood that a couple of titles have been donated by visitors. I am next on the roster. It’s a noble cause that requires support.

In the audio visual section, I met with Russell a writer who was using one of the two computers – typing away his manuscript that lay in several pages of a school exercise book. He caught my attention because he sat alone typing one letter at time. I reached out to ask what he was doing. You see, helping Liberian writers to develop quality manuscripts is part of the Reading Liberia project. Mike explained that often time, writers use the good-old pen and paper combination then come to the library to digitize their works. It means the writing process is slow and tedious. When they can find a computer at the library, electricity may be off and if WE-CARE doesn’t switch on the power generator for any reason they won’t work.

Oasis of knowledge in the in-city Monrovia

I spent the day at the WE-CARE Foundation and met the staff and teacher trainers. WE-CARE’s Mike Weah walked me through the history of the foundation, its priorities and linkages across the education sub-sector. From a small community based effort, the foundation has positioned itself as key player in educational instructional reforms in Liberia. With the Liberia Teacher Training Program (LTTP) taking the lead on much of the core teacher training activities albeit with support from USAID, Mike understands that the country is in urgent need of local capacity to innovate and drive educational reforms; strengthen instructional training and support.

Reading Liberia trainers have already delivered a training workshop at the invitation of LTTP. Another similar workshop is scheduled in which ten lead teacher trainers will be involved in two workshops over the next five days. Sixty teachers in all will be trained on how to use new instructional approaches for reading and writing in Liberian classrooms.

At the library, I noticed the majority of users are young people – in high schools or colleges. I sought to know why from a few users. One young man told me the library has the books he needs and the location [on the main street of in-city Monrovia] is convenient. WE-CARE confirms that most schools don’t have a library nor is there a national public library. Although the space is perfect the library doesn’t have near to core stock. That goes to illustrate the scope of the challenge students’ face in Monrovia. The library can do with more – a lot more books on topical issues. I understood that a couple of titles have been donated by visitors. I am next on the roster. It’s a noble cause that requires support.

In the audio visual section, I met with Russell a writer who was using one of the two computers – typing away his manuscript that lay in several pages of a school exercise book. He caught my attention because he sat alone typing one letter at time. I reached out to ask what he was doing. You see, helping Liberian writers to develop quality manuscripts is part of the Reading Liberia project. Mike explained that often time, writers use the good-old pen and paper combination then come to the library to digitize their works. It means the writing process is slow and tedious. When they can find a computer at the library, electricity may be off and if WE-CARE doesn’t switch on the power generator for any reason they won’t work.