Liberian educator recommends to govt.

In a bid to improve early childhood learning here, a Liberian educator recommends regular In-Service Training and Individualized Education Program.

Madam Lucia Paygai, Chairperson for the Counseling Department at African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU) in Monrovia, says in order to enhance early childhood education, the Ministry of Education should conduct in-service training for early childhood teachers every six months.

She also recommends that government introduces Individualized Education Program (IEP) to help hard-learning students. Madam Paygai, an early childhood education expert, made these recommendations at the weekend during the 19th 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,” she explains.

Madam Paygai, who holds a Master’s of Art Degree in Christian Counseling, from the Newburgh Theological Seminary in the state of Indiana, United States of America, says such assessment will point out students’ problems.

She notes that the IEP will determine whether a child in the classroom has specific Learning Disability (LD) such as short attention span, depending on age. “In this case, we will not call our children dull, too hard to learn, or for you, book is not good for you.”

She urges parents to provide all needed support towards their children’s educational sojourn 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 stresses.