UNESCO - LIBERIA PARTNERSHIP: 50 YEARS OF EFFECTIVE TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION

1. General

1. UNESCO and the Government of Liberia signed a Technical Cooperation agreement for "Fundamental Education and Science" in 1950. In 1951 UNESCO provided funds for setting up of the Liberia National Commission for UNESCO. Between 1951 and 1960 UNESCO supported the Government of Liberia in several general and transverse programmes including: the creation of the Joint United Nations-Liberia Education Programme (JULEP) in 1952; provision of Science Instructors, scholarships and experts to the University of Liberia; the supply of Experts and Specialists in Education, Science and Curriculum and for educational materials development.

2. In 1970, UNESCO provided the services of the Secretary General of the Canadian National Commission to structure and strengthen the Liberia National Commission. Since then, UNESCO and the Government of Liberia have cooperated in endorsing all relevant international protocols, conventions and conferences in the UNESCO areas of competence.

2. Education

1. In the area of Basic Education and Adult and Non-Formal Education, UNESCO in 1951 supported the establishment of the Basic Education and Culture Centre at Klay for pre- and in-service training of various categories of rural workers in Liberia. Between 1952 and 1970 UNESCO fielded in Liberia, a series of missions and advisors in Primary Education, Curriculum and Adult Education. The staff of Adult Education of MOE received overseas training at the UNESCO Institute in Hamburg (in 1963) and in Denmark (1964), and some targeted fellowships (between 1966 and 1980). In 1974 UNESCO executed the LAMCO Fund-in-Trust for production of literacy materials. In 1977 UNESCO provided Braille equipment to promote integrated education for the blind in Liberia. In 1994 and 1995 UNESCO provided US$15,000 for the Christian Association of the Blind for equipment. |It also gave US$25,000 to revise the national curriculum to the MOE; and US$10,000 to Division of Agricultural education to revise and print instructional materials for Agricultural Education, as well as uS$15,000 for renovation and equipment.

UNESCO has, since after the Liberia civil war committed: (a) US$51,000 (1999) to support the Liberia National Mass Literacy Programme (NMLP), aimed at reducing the estimated 70% illiteracy by half by end of 2000; (b) US$105,000, for the "Victoria A. Tolbert Girls in Distress" pilot project aimed as providing basic education and subsidy for war-affected women and girl-mothers.

2. In the area of Secondary Education, UNESCO in 1963 provided large sets of science and laboratory equipment through the Ministry of Education to all Government Senior 2 High Schools in Liberia. UNESCO also provided source books to all Junior and Senior High Schools to encourage science teachers to produce science devices and apparatus from local materials. Between 1963 and 1989 UNESCO fielded several missions and provided overseas fellowships and training for secondary school teachers.

3. In the Teacher education and training, UNESCO's role in Liberia has been outstanding. Some specific UNESCO activities in teacher education include: (a) preparation in 1950 of the first set of teachers manual for Science and Fundamental Education; (b) provision of various forms of technical assistance between 1960 and 1984 for the establishment and strengthening of each of the three major teacher training institutes: the Kakata Rural Teachers Training Institute (KRTTI), the Zorzor Rural Teachers

Training Institute (ZRTTI) and the Webbo Rural Teachers Training Institute (WRTTI) including study tours and overseas training and workshops for Science teachers; (c) provision of 10 Experts in 1972 for pre-service training of teachers at the KRTTI, and for development of primary school curriculum, coupled with a total of 102 man months of overseas training for 11 Liberian counterparts; (d) execution of the UNDP-UNESCO US$1.4 Million project on Primary teacher training involving 12 international experts as well as overseas training for 13 nationals; (e) execution of the 1974 IDA-UNESCO US$1.05 Million for strengthening of the KRTTI; (f) provision in 1978 of experts in Testing and Evaluation in the TTCs and for preparation of national education survey.

Currently, (2000) UNESCO, with the collaboration of UNDP and UNICEF is developing and packaging a Teacher Education "Distance Learning" programme for Liberia. The programme will include sponsoring an academic Chair in the Tubman Teachers College of the University of Liberia.

4. In the area of Technical and Vocational education, UNESCO, as early as 1974 provided two senior Experts for developing Technical and Vocational curricula as well as in monitoring and evaluation techniques. Currently (2000) UNESCO is fielding a Consultant in Technical Vocational and Science education to develop plans and strategies for accelerated Technical/Vocational Education programme for post-war Liberia.

5. In Higher Education, under a technical cooperation agreement with the Government of Liberia, UNESCO provided a team of Science Instructors for the University of Liberia, alongside a number of fellowships for University staff to specialize in science disciplines. Between 1980 and 1984, UNESCO provided experts and specialists for the two Universities. Also UNESCO sponsored two conferences on higher education policies and training at Cuttington University College. Two Programme Specialists from UNESCO/BREDA visited Liberia during the period to backstop on the multi-disciplinary programmes in higher education.

Recently (1998), UNESCO provided US$100,000 for reconstruction of the A.M. Dogliote Medical College of the University of Liberia. UNESCO also gave US$10, 000 for the improvement of learning services of students. UNESCO also provided 3 US$100,000 to the university of Liberia which is to used for renovation of the Science complex as well as Laboratory equipment at the Fendel Campus. In 1999 UNESCO funded the first National Conference on Higher Education in Liberia. The conference which involved all higher education institutions and stakeholders in Liberia focussed on policy issues in relation to access, relevance, quality, capacity building and cost and financing of Higher Education in Liberia. In 2000, UNESCO provided uS$2,500 to the Press Union to celebrate the World Press Freedom Day in Liberia and uS$5,000 to MOE to celebrate the International Literacy Day.

6. In the area of educational planning and administration, in 1963, at the request of the Government of Liberia, UNESCO fielded a mission of 5 Specialists for the planning and development programming of Liberia education. Between 1970 and 1972, under the participation programmes, UNESCO provided 3 Experts (for book development and printing, finance and statistics, and for rural training). In 1974 UNESCO executed a UNDP-UNESCO US$299,300 three-year project (1974-1976) comprising 3 international experts, 4 fellowships, local training and equipment. In 1977, UNESCO provided technical assistance for the development of the Educational Facilities Division of the Ministry of Education. In 1978 two UNESCO Experts served to develop instruments and guidelines for the National Education Survey and Statistics.

Currently, UNESCO is executing a US$1,300,000 UNDP-funded Rehabilitation Support to the Education Sector project aimed at improving the national capacities for planning, supervision, monitoring and evaluation as well as for staff training (including teachers) and educational materials development and production.

3. Science And Technology

1. In addition to the facilities, fellowships and grants provided for Science and Technology capacity building at the University of Liberia between 1970 and '84, UNESCO had earlier in 1962 provided a science teaching Expert to assist the Ministry of Education in the planning, coordination and development of science teaching in Secondary Schools nationwide. In 1963 UNESCO provided sets of Science Laboratory equipment through the MOE to all Government Senior High Schools. In 1977 UNESCO provided fellowships for regional training in science evaluation, as well as fellowships for employees of the Ministry of Lands and Mines to attend Regional training course for Hydrology Technicians in Nairobi.

Currently UNESCO is reviewing the programmes for science teaching, equipment and curriculum in post-war Liberia with a view to providing additional relevant support.

4. Culture And Communication

1. As early as 1961, UNESCO provided technical assistance and grant for the establishment of Central Public Library which became so popular that students and staff were compelled to visit it at least once per week. In the same year, UNESCO organized a three-weeks training course in typography for compositors in printing houses in Monrovia.

4 2. Between 1961 and 1973 UNESCO provided several capacity building projects including (a) sponsoring the participation of the MOE Director of Library in UNESCO Seminar in Nigeria on Development of Public Libraries in Africa; 9b) establishment of the Liberia National Museum in 1992; (c) provision of US$15,000 grant for purchase of books for the Liberia Central Library; (d) support for the Liberia National Commission to coordinate overseas (in US and Nigeria) training in Linguistics, Arts and Crafts, Library Services, and Museum.

3. In 1977 under the participation programme of member States, UNESCO provided grants for (a) 3 Regional fellowships (3 m/m each) in industrial education curriculum; (b) training seminar on educational planning for Librarians; (c) short consultancy services in Linguistics, Library, Oral History Research, etc. In 1984 UNESCO also provided consultancy on Research and Documentation in Human and Social Sciences.

4. In the recent post-war Liberia, under the participation programme UNESCO has (in 1998/1999) provided the following support through the Liberia National Commission: (i) US$10,000 for development of National Policy on Culture and Tourism; (ii) US$10,000 for skills training for rural women; (iii) US$10,000 for Mass Education awareness Campaign; (iv) US$10,000 for celebration of 50th Anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights; (v) US$15,000 for Pan African News Agency; (vi) US$5,000 to CEDE for Workshop on Media Institutions and Peace building; (vii) US$10,000 for procurement of equipment for the Press Union of Liberia; (viii) US$7,000 to the press union for Workshop on Press/Media reporting on development issues.