The_Open_Door_deel1

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TABLE 55
HIGHEST GRADE COMPLETED OF GOVERNMENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
Grade or
level of
instruction
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
1
12th
yr of College
2 yrs of College
3 yrs of
4 yrs or
College
more of
College
1963
Number
of
Teachers
7
92
371
209
188
142
209
27
45
27
110
TOTAL 1,427
Percentage
of
Teachers
0.5
6.4
26.0
14.6
13-2
9.9
14.6
1.9
3.1
1.9
7.7
Source: Based on "A Five-Year Plan for Education in Liberia", p.26
Many of them 'were of tribal back-ground and had to learn English
as a second language. Being introduced to English in school and
not hearing English at home most children had to overcome many
obstacles to stay on. Conditions in the rural areas are bound to
have been even worse. All the factors mentioned above explain the
high drop-out rates which characterised the Liberian educational
system in the 196O's. The Department of Education failed to
adequately supervise the instructional programmes and the
schools - transportation being inadequate and automobiles not
made available to supervisory personnel.
In 1963 there were 41 public school sessions both at elementary
and secondary school level operating in 26 buildings in Monrovia.
The nation's capital then had some 81,000 inhabitants of whom