The NEWS (Monrovia)
T. Michael Johnny
23 December 2008
Monrovia — United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi E. Frazer has formally handed over 10,500 pieces of school furniture and one million books to the government and people of Liberia at the Montserrado County Learning Resource Center, behind the City Hall in Monrovia.
The donation of the books and furniture was in fulfillment of US President George Bush's commitment to providing Liberian schools with desks and one million books during his historic February 2008 visit to Liberia.
Presenting the items to the government of Liberia, Madam Frazer said she was gratified to execute President George Bush's pledge to Liberia.
"I am honored today to formally present to the Liberian Government and people 10,500 pieces of school furniture and one million books which President George Bush promised during his visit last February and it's with great pleasure that I perform the task", Madam Frazer said.
The US Assistant Secretary of State handed over the furniture and the text books to Education Minister Dr. Joseph Korto and elementary school Vice Principal Mary S. Mehn.
The presentation was witnessed by US Ambassador to Liberia Linda Thomas-Greenfield and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Mission Director Pamela White.
On behalf of the Liberian government, Education Minister Korto thanked the United States government for its sustained role in enhancing democracy through the acquisition of quality education.
"We sincerely appreciate the gesture of President George Bush and the American people in sustaining and improving education in the country; I must admit that the US has been the largest supporter of education in Liberia," Dr. Korto said.
The Education Minister said the challenges facing the educational system in Liberia were daunting, ranging from inadequate trained teachers to limited instructional materials as well as limited access to education for all, including lack of sufficient classrooms.
Notwithstanding, Dr. Korto lauded the US Government through USAID for the renovation of teachers training program facilities in the country.
Over the next 10 weeks, the USAID-funded Liberia Community Infrastructure Program (LCIP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education will deliver 10, 500 pieces of small and large chairs and desks to 156 elementary, junior and senior high schools in six counties including River Gee, Rivercess, Grand Kru, Maryland, Gbarpolu and Sinoe Counties.
Statistics obtained from USAID revealed that nearly 700,000 books have been provided to Liberian school libraries, adult literacy students, and primary school classrooms through three separate programs funded by U.S. citizens.
Accordingly, USAID's largest book distribution has reached 550,000 to 746 schools, and trained 3,000 teachers from 1,500 schools in a two-day Library Management workshop.
Additional five containers of books to schools, rural teacher training institutes, and Liberian colleges and universities are expected to be distributed soon.
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