Something for the MOE to ponder! January 3, 2015 (Edited from one written on October 23, 2014) OPEN LETTER TO THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION, R.L. Dear Madam Minister: I write to express few points that may claim your attention as we are beset by the scourge of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). The focus of my missive is to make the below recommendations as you contemplate the reopening of schools in the face of a lull in the Ebola Virus Disease incidence in Liberia : 1. Beginning academic activities with an Interim Crash School Program: I do believe that you and your staff are currently designing programs for the re-opening of schools. What I wish to suggest, however, is that given the length of time that students have stayed out of school, it would be prudent that the Ministry of Education (MOE) mandate an interim Crash School Program for all schools whereby students will be gradually absorbed into academic activities, rather than immediately beginning normal academic work. There are psychological as well as economic and administrative reasons for this suggestion. On the one hand, students, having stayed away from school for so long, will need to be eased into academic activities gradually, especially considering that they may have been affected in one way or the other by the contagion. Some may have lost their parents or close relatives or friends as a result of the spread of the EVD. On the other hand, most parents may have experienced adverse economic conditions as a result of the EVD crisis; hence they may not be fully prepared to undertake the full financial obligations of a normal academic program. Lastly, the Crash Program will help in ensuring that the regular academic calendar is preserved given that it may run between now and July or August when normal registration process can be commenced. 2. Suspension of Certain fees and Requirements: During the Interim Crash School Program, which may run for a semester (100 days), a minimum fee, generally affordable, be charged at non-public schools and that the wearing of uniform be optional. Also, requirement such as I.D. card fees, P.T.A. dues, Computer fees, Breakage fees, and Tuition be suspended for that period. Similarly, at public schools, at the upper level, where fees were required, such fees be suspended. 3. Adoption of a Core Curriculum for the Interim Crash School Program: A specified set of subjects for each grade level be identified to serve as the focus of the Program. Specifically, at the Primary Level, English Language (Grammar, Reading, Writing, and Spelling) and Arithmetic should be emphasized; at the Junior High and Senior High levels, the focus should be on English Language, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. At the High School level the different prongs of the Science curriculum (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) should be proportionately alternated on the teaching schedules during this period; the same should apply to Social Studies which encompasses Economics, Geography and History. 4. Students who perform well in the Crash Program be promoted to the next class. 5. Utilizing partnerships with UNICEF, UNESCO, WFP, USAID, as well as other NGO’s: The MOE can tap in on the UNICEF Back-to-School (BTS) initiative as was implemented in Rwanda (1994), Liberia (2004), South Sudan (2006), Uganda (2007), Côte D’Ivoire (2011) and elsewhere, as outlined in UNICEF Back-to-School Guide. A blueprint for such a proposal may exist at the MOE since this initiative was used here previously. These partnerships will ameliorate the massive resource needs that the Government of Liberia may have to mobilize to see the Program become a success. 6. The setup at various schools should be kept intact: This is to say that schools should maintain their previous enrollments and staff as much as possible. Only where necessary, should schools take in new students or new teaching and other staff. 7. A uniform compensation plan for all teaching and non-teaching staff at all schools for the duration of the Program: Given that non-public schools may not afford to pay their staff under this arrangement, the GoL through its partners will need to set up a means of paying all teachers for the duration of the program. The modalities can be worked out. Finally, it is my hope that the ideas presented herein will be taken into serious consideration for further crystallization to meet the standards and guidelines of the MOE and other conventions on Education, and eventually be made operational. With my highest esteem. Sincerely yours, Samuel M. Johnson Graduate Program in Education (GPED) University of Liberia smawoloj@gmail / 0886-553752 / 0776-360868 / 0555-593154
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 20:12:36 +0000