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DEPLOYING STEM EDUCATION IN LIBERIAN HIGH SCHOOLS

Mobiles for Education (mEducation) Alliance Symposium

Arlington, Virginia, USA and Washington, D.C.

September 30th- October 4th 2024

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Introduction & Role at the MoE

• The world is increasingly driven by digital technology, it is therefore, imperative that schools equip students with the relevant knowledge and skills needed to cope with, thrive in, and contribute meaningfully to the dynamic and rapid shifting of the 21st-century economic and social landscape.

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• The MoE has recognized STEM education as a crucial field for advancing Liberia’s sustainable development and economic growth and providing skills needed in today’s workforce

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• As such, the MoE has elevated the importance of STEM teaching and learning to a level of high priority in the ESP by ensuring that gender sensitive and inclusive human and infrastructure capacities are built to enhance STEM teaching and learning.

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• To ensure the objective of the MoE priorities, the WB has provided funding for digital education and the establishment of 28 science laboratories in 28 SSS as indicated in the slides.

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Key Deliverables

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With funding from the WB, the MoE is ensuring the integration of digital education in SSS across the country such as to:

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• Establish 156 functional digital labs in public and community Senior Secondary schools (SSS)
• Pilot the ICT curriculum and competency framework
• Train teachers to implement ICT curriculum in schools.
• Deploy and maintain the operation of fully equipped computer laboratories in 156 SSS across the country.
• Develop and Implement Sustainability & Strengthening strategy to ensure post-intervention continuity

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What Has Been Achieved?

• School Readiness Inspection
• Renovated/rehabilitated and conducted assessment of 156 school’s digital labs across the country for school readiness.
• Delivery of Solar Power Equipment
• Have installed and inspected the installation of solar panel solution in all 156 implementing SSS across the country.
• Delivery of Computers and Other Equipment
• About 3,400 computers & accessories (computers, printers, projectors and projector screens, sound system and internet routers) have been procured to be distributed and installed in all implementing schools across the country

Key Challenges

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• Deployment of digital solution may not be done in all schools due to delay in the completion of some schools’ digital lab renovation/rehabilitation.
• Funding gaps due to underestimation of projection cost to conduct training for wider (cohorts) teachers in the use of digital curriculum and training module for master trainers and teachers at the school level.

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• Mainstreaming the digital program into the national budget for the sustainability of the project pending

Work in Progress Deliverables

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• Deployment and set up computers and accessories in 156 SSS.
• Conduct LMS wider training for teachers across the country
• Carry out User testing and rolling out the LMS to 156 schools
• Launch of the EdTech Solution;
• Development of the monitoring tool and continuous monitoring
• Completion of the sustainability strategy
• Review and final adoption of the competency framework
• In-country stakeholder workshop (To validate Sustainability Plan)
• Inter–agency ministerial stakeholder partnership mechanism to drive support (with a focus on the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, GSM companies, ISPs).
• Conduct training for teachers in the use of ICT curriculum.

STEM Education Challenges

• Lack of STEM policy (process on-going)
• Limited exposure and awareness to practical STEM education,
• Lack of standardized lab manual
• Limited access to functional science and computer labs
• Limited number of trained teachers, especially female;
• Teachers specialized in other subjects tend to fill the gap in STEM subjects, resulting in poor deliverables and performance;
• Limited access to digital education and e-equipment for students and teachers
• Limited access to internet connectivity and electricity for digital learning opportunities

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Opportunities to Collaboration

• Education programs implementation in Liberia in Liberia are highly donor dependent due to low budgetary allotment for the education sector.
• With the level of importance attached to the STEM education, the following organizations are playing major role in providing support to close the gaps
• Peace Corps
• Practical Education Network (PEN) through UNIDO with funding from EU – providing practical low cost hands on teacher training for math & science teachers.
• LabXchange (through networking collaboration from last year’ symposium) – providing online training for STEM (with simulation, videos, etc.)
• I-Help Liberia – providing online training for Math Teachers for SSS
• Learning Upgrade (through networking collaboration from last year’ symposium) – providing digital platform for students to use their gadget for learning purposes

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Conclusion:

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• Digital Literacy rates are low in Liberia. These interventions are considered a major contribution to the improvement of Digital literacy skills in the education sector.
• The impact on students and implications for skills, jobs, and growth as well as involvement in the global society is appreciated.
• It provides opportunities for teachers and students to enhance teaching and learning in this 21^st century.

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Activities with Learning Upgrade

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• Met Mr. Vinod Lobo, the CEO for Learning Upgrade during the 2023 mEducation Alliance Symposium and initiated a discussion on working with the MoE to pilot digital learning platform.

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• Learning Upgrade is now Piloting digital platform for teachers and students to use their gadgets for teaching and learning.

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• The program is being implemented in one of our public high school - W. V. S. Tubman High School

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• At the end of the pilot, discussion to roll out the program into our LMS and digital education platform will be a great way forward.

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• I want to introduce to you Mr. Vinod Lobo, CEO, Learning Upgrade for the continuation of our presentation on the status of Learning upgrade and its ongoing pilot in Liberia.

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Rehabilitation/Renovation of ongoing Digital Labs

Digital Classroom Readiness for Implementation

Navigating Through Difficult Time to Get to Schools

A Liberia Ministry of Education and

Learning Upgrade Partnership

Deploying STEM EdTech in Liberia’s High Schools

LIFE-CHANGING EDUCATION FOR ALL

Together, Learning Upgrade and the Liberia Ministry of Education is using Learning Upgrade’s award-winning program to close learning gaps and accelerate student growth in STEM-related subjects.

The Liberia Ministry of Education has set a goal of improving student performance in math, science, and technology through the STEM programs.

1500+ LESSONS

3.5M STUDENTS

Learning Upgrade’s standards-based curriculum includes courses in English, math, job skills, and test prep.

28 COURSES

Learning Upgrade uses songs, video, and games to teach with built -in feedback and remediation

40+ COUNTRIES

Implementation organizations bring education to the hardest to reach areas or places that lack traditional education services.

XPRIZE WINNERS

Learning Upgrade was the Co-Grand Prize Winner of the $7M Adult Literacy XPRIZE competition.

4X LEARNING SPEED

Students can complete one full year of English or math within 3 months of learning.

WHAT IS LEARNING UPGRADE?

Learning Upgrade is an education technology program that enables anyone, anywhere to learn English, math, and job skills through a groundbreaking, smartphone and computer-based program.

Learning Upgrade has served more than 3.5 million children and adults over 25+ years.

OUR PARTNERS

Community-Based Organizations &

Refugee-Led Organizations

Ministries of Education & Government Agencies

Global NGOs & Nonprofits

LEARNING FOR TRANSITIONS

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To maintain continuity of education for displaced children, organizations enroll children in Learning Upgrade’s reading, writing, and math lessons using available technology, such as tablets, smartphones, and laptops. The goal is to provide an education bridge for children who are transitioning to local schools.

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1.

Children Transition to School: 53% out of school

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Organizations enroll youth in English, math, digital skills, test prep, and financial skills courses to prepare them for entrance to vocational training and college. The program assesses each youth’s current level and gives them curriculum to prepare for higher education. The goal is youth who are ready to enter higher ed for future self-reliance.

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Youth Transition to Higher Ed: 15% by 2030

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Organizations enroll youth in English, digital skills, work skills, and financial skills courses to prepare them for jobs in their host location or for labor mobility to other locations. The program assesses each youth’s level and gives them curriculum to prepare for better jobs and self-reliance.

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Youth Transition to Work: Labor Mobility

LIBERIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION & LEARNING UPGRADE

WILLIAM V.S. TUBMAN HIGH SCHOOL

Students used their personal smartphone devices to progress and were enrolled in English, math, and job skills courses.

Lessons Completed

Number of Students

11th and 12th Grade

Certificates Earned

Located in Monrovia, Liberia, William V. S. Tubman High School is the premier high school of the government of Liberia and operates a two-track program, including academic and technical vocational education training(TVET).

1,532

48

Learning Upgrade Applied

5

Hours Spent on LU

124

WHAT’S NEXT?

REACH OUT TO LEARN MORE

VINOD LOBO

SANGAY M. FREEMAN

CEO, Learning Upgrade

vinod@learningupgrade.com

STEM Education Director, Liberia Ministry of Education

sangayfaeflen@gmail.com