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OSI invites RWCT assistance in the implementation of the Residential Teacher Training Program in Liberia, West Africa

Reading & Writing for Critical Thinking (RWCT) trainers Veronica Cretu and Nicu Cretu were invited by the Open Society Institute (OSI) to act as Lead Trainers in the residential teacher training program at the newly renovated Rural Teacher Training Institute in Zorzor, Liberia (West Africa), in September 8-18, 2008. Veronica and Nicu guided the Liberian trainers in planning and delivering training sessions, observed and provided feedback on the training sessions that the local trainers conducted, and contributed to the revision process of the C-certificate Teacher Training Curriculum.

OSI’s current engagement in the USAID-funded Liberian Teacher Training Program (LTTP) builds on earlier RWCT training for the Stella Maris group of teachers (2007-2008), training of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) trainers in Monrovia (February 2008), training of trainers in Kakata (May 2008), and training for Academy for Educational Development (AED) trainers in Harper (August 2008). One of the significant outcomes of RWCT engagement in Liberia is that the Stella Maris group of teachers and trainers has started an association called Critical Thinking Liberia.

In September, the two RWCT trainers worked alongside IRC and AED trainers and staff in Zorzor. IRC and AED are implementing partners in the LTTP program. Together, they managed to put in place a process that allows teams of trainers to plan their sessions carefully, and utilize these plans in debriefing the sessions together with the teacher participants. Thus, the trainers learnt not only how to plan in a team, but also how to make valuable use of the session plans both for themselves and for the program participants. An interesting photo gallery and some videos from the residential training program can be viewed at http://picasaweb.google.com/veronicacretu/Photos_Zorzor#

At the conclusion of the teacher training program in Zorzor, Elena Andreotti, IRC Educational Program Manager, stated, “It seems we accomplished the mission of putting them [i.e. the participating teachers] on the path to becoming professional teachers, and empowering them in their schools and communities”.

Veronica Cretu & Nicu Cretu

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