Zorzor, Lofa County — The Zorzor Rural Teachers Training Institute (ZRTTI) on June 27 awarded 'C' certificates to 212 graduates. The teachers included 191 males and 23 females.
Addressing the graduates, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf observed that the country has come a long way from the period when education took the backseat after years of war. 'There can be no enduring peace until education is provided to all Liberians," the President said. The Liberian leader called on the Education Ministry to employ an aggressive recruitment process to attract more female candidates. The President reflected upon the progress ZRTTI has made over the last 16 months since its rehabilitation, characterizing it as "one worthy of emulation," and challenging the graduates to serve as role models.
For his part, Education Minister Dr. Joseph Korto pledged his ministry's commitment to improving benefits to the graduates. He regretted that the ZRTTI academic year began during Government's current fiscal year, a situation which prevented the ministry from including the trainees on payroll. However, Dr. Korto said all trainees undergoing the program received monthly allowances provided by the Government.
The valedictorian of the graduating class, Mr. Emmanuel Bessama, expressed willingness of his classmates to give back to society what they have learned, calling for all graduates to be placed on Government's payroll.
Saturday's graduation was the Zorzor Rural Teachers Training Institute's first in 20 years. The occasion brought together members of the Lofa County Legislative Caucus, officials of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as well as the families and well-wishers of the graduating class.
The ZRTTI commencement followed the graduation a week ago of 178 teachers from the Kakata Rural Teachers Training Institute (KRTTI) in Margibi County; also the first in 20 years.
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Dear Minister Korto,
I wish to offer words of appreciation for the tremendous contributions your Ministry continues to make in these difficult times. ZRTTI, where I learned to be a teacher, has been closed for about 10-15 years. But due to your sound administrative system, the teachers' institute has started again producing qualified teachers for our 'Dear Mother Land', Liberia. The only thing I have to say is, continue your good work until sound education is offered to all Liberians wishing to go to school.
To our President, please accept my sincere thanks and appreciation for the right direction our country is moving. This kind of work worths 1,000,000 times 'thank you'. I want the best for my fellow Liberians. Therefore, do not listen to any Liberian who wants to see our country at the bottom of the river. Please continue to do your best.
To all instructors of ZRTTI, you are doing good work for the Liberian people. I want you to be aware that there is no good pay for teachers even here in the United States. But God has our pays. I therefore wish to extend thanks and appreciation to you all. Please keep up your good work.
thanks, Mohammed M. Kiawu, USA
Brother Kiawu I do appreciate those kind and encouraging words for the President and the Minister. As the popular saying goes"give the person their flowers while they are still alive".You are a true liberian who is grateful to see the success of other liberians. YOU are not a selfish person who only think about himself. I am a regular visitor on this particular web and you have shown nothing but appreciations. The president is doing a wonderful job through the ministry of education. The minister of education must be recognized as well. The minister is the one identifying all these important training facilities(KRTTI,ZRTTI and the one in Maryland County) for the teachers. The minister is not taking the money for his use. God bless you again TAVACANO,California