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Government, the first Protestant Episcopal Mission and the
Methodist Mission. Three years later this institution came under
full (and exclusive) control of the Liberian Government.
In 1953, a Roman Catholic Institution in Harper, Maryland County,
(Our Lady of Fatima College), established another degree granting
programme for the training of teachers. In i960 Junior Teacher
Training Colleges were openend in two cities, Monrovia and
Harper. The following year the Junior Teacher Training Programme
in Harper was integrated with that of Our Lady of Fatima College.
Likewise, the Monrovia Junior Teacher Training Programme was
integrated in the programme provided by the University of
Liberia. However, the incentives given to teachers were virtually
absent and consequently only very few high school graduates
enrolled in these training programmes for teachers.
In another attempt to solve the problem of unqualified teachers
teaching in Liberian schools the Government introduced short-term
teachers' training programmes. The first one was created in the
Zorzor Institute, in what was then called Western Province, in
1961. Two others were subsequently planned at Kakata, in the
Central Province, and in Webbo, in the Eastern Province. The twoyear
programme offered to students who had completed at least
the 9th grade aimed at preparing them for teaching in rural
schools. At the same time effort was made to upgrade the
professional and academic level of the existing teaching staff
throughout the country (56). Nevertheless it was admitted by the
Government that tha. help of foreign instructors remained
indispensable (57).
Vocational Education (1963)
In 1963 Liberia had only one vocational training school, the
Booker Washington Institute, in Kakata, Central Province.
This institute had been created in 1926 as a private elementary
school. In 1950 the school had been taken over by the Liberian
Government and converted into a vocational high scheol. About
500 students were enrolled in 1963. The school was characterized
by (i) political appointments which resulted in a ratio of
employees to students of 1 : 10; (ii) an inadequate
administration which resulted in long delays in the procurement
of equipment and materials; (iiij an unwise spending of the
institution's limited funds (58).
A training center for vocational teachers or a programme for
their training did not exist in 1963. In that year, Liberia still
had no planned vocational training programme, nationwide in
character. It was not until I960 that a Division of Vocational
Education was set up within the Department of Education.
Higher Education (1963)
Higher education officially began in Liberia with the founding of