Through the Teacher Ambassador Program, LabXchange strives to elevate the digital competencies and teaching skills of educators across the world. While attending the 2023 mEducation Alliance Annual Symposium, LabXchange connected with representatives of Liberia’s Ministry of Education. With the ministry’s guidance, Liberia’s first Teacher Ambassador Program cohort was convened.

According to UNESCO, Liberia faces a significant learning crisis. In 2017, the lower secondary completion rate was 46% for boys and 42% for girls. Many areas face a teacher shortage, with qualified senior secondary teachers under short supply. In spite of these considerable challenges, the Liberia Teacher Ambassador Program cohort sought to equip educators with improved digital skills and STEM teaching strategies.

Under the leadership of master teachers Charles Bropleh and Julia Sandiman-Gbeyai, 22 ambassadors undertook the training between July and October 2024. They shared candid insights into the significant challenges they face while teaching:

1. Infrastructure issues: Liberia lacks stable digital infrastructure, and internet access and electricity can be inadequate and unreliable, especially in rural areas.
2. Resource limitations: Liberian educators often lack access to laptops, computers, tablets, and even smartphones.
3. Overcrowded and underfunded schools: Schools in Liberia often have large class sizes with limited resources, and high poverty rates affect the overall quality of education.
4. Professional development challenges: Liberian educators struggle to stay updated with the latest educational practices, due to limited resources and infrastructure.

To solve these significant structural issues, the full cooperation of the global community will be required. With its first Liberian teacher ambassador cohort, LabXchange hopes to lay a foundation for the future of online learning in the Republic of Liberia. By boosting educators’ skills and confidence, we can strengthen learners’ persistence and achievement in STEM in Liberia and beyond.

Hear from several ambassadors about their experiences as educators:

"My career highlights include leading a successful STEM education initiative in underprivileged schools around Monrovia and its environs. I take pride in mentoring students and inspiring them to become literate thinkers and problem-solvers."
—Nyonbada Deborah Strother

“I aim to change the perception that STEM is hard, especially in our country where few people engage with science. My goal is to foster understanding and realistic applications of scientific concepts to increase interest.”
—Moses Kennedy

“Over the years, these are some pieces of advice that have helped me along the way: I should always ask for help, I should be willing to learn from my mistakes, and I should understand my role as a teacher.”
—Joyce Siaway

“I aspire to inspire a love for science and mathematics, foster an inclusive learning environment, and cultivate critical thinking skills.”
—Alexander Nakamu Jr.

Ambassador Lesson Plans

Explore a selection of the pathways created by the teacher ambassadors in this cohort:

• Microorganisms: The Invisible World Around Us
• Heating Effects of Electricity: Current, Voltage, and Circuits
• Flowering Plants: Structure, Reproduction, and Growth
• Respiration and Energy in the Human Body

Teacher Ambassadors

Thank you to the 22 teacher ambassadors who participated in LabXchange's first Liberian cohort!

1. Bissi Allison
2. Ed Blamo Blamo
3. Moses Bombo
4. Weedor Flan
5. Saylee Flomo
6. Sangay Freeman
7. Gobeh Gayflor
8. Alonso Kegbeh
9. Moses Kennedy
10. James Kerkula
11. Samuel Kissinee
12. Alexander Nakamu Jr.
13. Princeton Nenyeah
14. Clinton Quee
15. Francis Sarty
16. Joyce Siaway
17. Nyonbada Deborah Strother
18. Nyondadein Deborah Strother
19. Miatta Tarpeh
20. Gabriel Taytuh
21. Christopher Thomas
22. James Vah

‍Interested in learning more about LabXchange’s educator programming? Would you like to serve as a teacher ambassador? Visit our Educator Community page or join our educator discussion groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.