Liberian Educator Makes Key Recommendations To Gov’t

In a bid to improve learning at the early childhood level, a Liberian educator has made two key recommendations to the Government of Liberia (GoL) through the Ministry of Education (MoE).

Madam Lucia Paygai

Madam Lucia Paygai, who is the Chairperson for the Counseling Department at the faith-based African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU), said in order to enhance early childhood education, the ministry must conduct in-service training for the head start teachers (early childhood teachers) every six months.

She also recommended that the government introduces Individualized Education Program (IEP) to help hard-learning students.

Madam Paygai, an early childhood education expert, made these recommendations at the weekend at program marking the 19^th graduation convocation of the Prime System School of Christ in Paynesville, outside Monrovia.

“The Individualized Education Program (IEP) serves two purposes: (1) As a written plan for a particular student, it is developed by the case conference team that prescribes specific educational objectives and placement for individual student; and (2) as a management tool for the entire assessment process. It involves all the assessment evaluation as well as teaching procedures. It becomes the critical link between the learning student and special teaching that the student requires,” said the Liberian educator.

The AMEU official, who holds a Masters of Art Degree in Christian Counseling, from the Newburgh Theological Seminary in the state of Indiana, United States of America, stated that such assessment will point out students’ problems.

She noted that the IEP will uncover whether the child has a specific Learning Disability (LD) such as short attention span, depending on the age of the child.

“In this case, we will not call our children dull, too hard to learn, or for you, book is not good for you,” Madam Paygai indicated.

She urged parents to provide all needed support towards the educational sojourn of their children and in every aspect of their lives.

“Every parent needs to understand that giving money, material things to a child, or being a part-time parent does not qualify you as a parent. You child needs you there every day to ask him or her how was school today? Can I see your work? And how are you feeling? A child needs a good night hug, a good morning hug, and to wipe away their tears for their first heart break. A child needs both parents” she cautioned parents.

Among other things, the Christian Counselor urged children to reciprocate the love shown by their parents by providing some help at home and giving them all needed respect due them.