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RWCT for Liberian teacher trainers

In 19 May-1 June, 2008, eight RWCT trainers were in Kakata, Liberia, to train 80 Liberian teacher trainers for service in that country's three revitalized Rural Teacher Training Institutes. The two-week training program took place at the Kakata Residential Teacher Training Institute (RTTI), the first of the three campuses to be completely rebuilt and extended for in-service (and eventually for pre-service) teacher training. After undergoing two more training seminars, a group of selected participants will begin in September to train the 16,000 unqualified teachers who will be needed in classrooms as Liberia – a country recently emerged from 14 years of civil war – returns its education system to full force.

The RWCT trainers were invited to Liberia by the Education Support Program of OSI London, to deliver training within the Liberian Teacher Training Program (LTTP) of the Liberian Ministry of Education. LTTP is supported by USAID.

The RWCT training program was staffed by Charles Temple, Penny Freppon, Veronica Cretu, Nicu Cretu, Jeff Zwiers, Donna Ogle, Bud Ogle and Maria Kovacs. It was extremely well received by the participants, most of whom were highly experienced teachers. "I didn't know teaching could be so enjoyable", said Samuel Mike Botchey, one of the participants from Kakata RTTI. "This training will really change the life of Liberian schools. It should be extended to the entire country", shared Victor Walker, an ex-school principal from Maryland County, who has over 30 years of teaching experience.

The RWCT trainers were assisted by local co-trainers prepared by Critical Thinking International (CTI) trainers in 2007-2008 at the Stella Maris Polytechnic, and International Rescue Committee (IRC) trainers familiarized with the RWCT program in a one-week training delivered by RWCT IC trainers in Monrovia in February 2008. All RWCT trainers have been invited to return to Liberia and see the local teacher trainers in action in their field-based training or in the RTTIs of Kakata, Webo or Zorzor.

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