Population -- 3,283,000 in July 2005
Major Languages -- English is the official written and oral language. 29 African languages belonging to the Mande, Kwa or Mel linguistic groups are also used, some of which are written.
Major religions -- Christianity, Islam, and Indigenous Beliefs
Type of Government -- Republic
Main Exports -- Diamonds, Iron Ore, Rubber, Timber, Coffee, and Cocoa
Life Expectancy -- 41 years for men; 43 years for women
Definition of Literacy -- persons age 15 and over who can read and write
Literacy Rate -- total population: 57.5%; male: 73.3%; female: 41.6%
Script/Alphabet Used -- Latin script, with some extended Latin characters
Overview of Education -- Schools are operated by churches, Christian missionaries, or through the Monrovia Cooperative School System (MCSS). Most of the children go to public schools because the high cost of private schools makes them inaccessible. Many public schools have lower performance rates than private schools, due to a lack of funding for instructors and necessary materials.
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School Structure
Primary School --
Length: 6 years
Age level: 7-12 years old
General Secondary School --
Length: 7 years
Age level: 13-18 years old
Public or Private Schools and Compulsory or Optional -- School is compulsory for the first 10 years. There are both public and private schools available. Most Liberians cannot afford private schools, which offer higher quality education, and attend public schools instead.
School Attendance -- 83.44% of the population attends primary school; 24.72% attends secondary school. On average, females attend school for 6.9 years, while males attend school for 11.7 years.
Post-Secondary Opportunities -- There is one public university and five private colleges. Many of the private universities are too expensive for people to afford. The public university has suffered from financial issues and recently had to close down for two semesters before re-opening. It usually takes 6 - 7 years to complete a degree.
Pupil to teacher ratio -- In primary school, there is one teacher per 36 students; in secondary school the ratio is one teacher to 17 students.
Teacher qualifications -- Public schools have low standards for teacher qualifications. However, the government is working to implement comprehensive guidelines for teachers through a new initiative called the Education and Training Sector Improvement Program (ETSIP).
Method of instruction and subjects/curriculum -- The overall school structure is similar to that which is found in the United States, but there is inadequate funding so Liberians have less materials to use and often don’t have textbooks for students.
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Culture of the Classroom
Physical environment -- Many schools suffered severe damage from the civil war; the government is now trying to repair some of them. Many of the schools are located in Monrovia so children must live in that area to have the best chance for attending school.
Culture of classroom including discipline -- They used to use corporal punishment, but, since the end of the civil war it has become unfashionable because of new child rights groups. Recently, there has been an increase in behavioral problems in the schools.
Gender roles in classroom -- Traditionally, there have been more opportunities for boys. Before the civil war, girls were discriminated against in the schools. Since that time, government agencies have promoted education rights for girls and designated funds for them.
Parent involvement/parent role in education -- Parents pay for their children’s education. They are often faced with the decision to send them to school or to keep them home to work and make money for the family.
Accommodation for those with special needs -- There are no accommodations.
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Access to Education
Educational Barriers -- Most schools are located in Monrovia, leaving few opportunities for students who live outside of this area. The lack of qualifications that teachers need leads to low performance from students. Also the general lack of funding causes problems and limits access to schools.
Socio-Political Influences -- There is little support from the government as a whole, but especially when it comes to funding. However, this is beginning to change as new programs and policies have recently been initiated.
Progress
Currently, efforts are underway to improve the schools and heighten standards for teacher qualifications.
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Sources
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Last Revised
06 June 2008
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