Transforming Pre-Service Teacher Education in Liberia: A Journey of Co-Creation and Reform

The quality of an education system never exceeds the quality of its teachers. In Liberia, a historic pre-service teacher education reform in Liberia is underway to ensure that every classroom is led by a qualified, motivated, and highly skilled professional.

Through the Technical Assistance Package (TA1), delivered under the Regional Teachers’ Initiative for Africa (RTIA) and coordinated in Finland by the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI), the Liberian Ministry of Education and the Finnish Learning Scoop team have joined forces to reshape the future of pre-service teacher training. The initiative focused on the reform of Liberia’s pre-service teacher training curricula. The project supported the revision of the ECE-C and Lower Basic-C teacher training curricula to better integrate gender-responsive and inclusive pedagogy, prevention of school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV), mental health and wellbeing strategies, as well as green and digital skills.

The Challenge: Bridging the Gap

For too long, Liberia’s teacher education has faced fragmentation. Many teachers entered the field without sufficient pedagogical tools, and the curricula at Rural Teacher Training Institutions (RTTIs) were often fragmented and didn’t always align with university-level requirements. The Education Sector Plan (2022/23–2026/27) identified this as a critical bottleneck: to improve learning outcomes, we must first strengthen the people who deliver them.

As noted in the Country Action Plan (CAP), this gap created a disconnected pathway for professional growth. The TA1 initiative was designed to bridge this divide, aligning RTTI curricula with university standards to create a cohesive, national teacher education trajectory. By aligning RTTI curricula with university standards, we are enabling a seamless transition for teachers to progress from “C-certificate” programs to degree studies. This isn’t just a technical update; it’s a strategic investment in the long-term professional growth of Liberia’s workforce.

Modernizing the Curriculum: Transversal Skills and Global Themes

A major achievement of the TA1 project was the integration of critical, cross-cutting themes that were previously underrepresented. The new curricula now embed:

• Digital Literacy & Green Skills: Preparing teachers and students for a digital and sustainable future.
• Inclusion & Gender Equality: Tackling sensitive topics like School-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) prevention and mental health.
• Global Citizenship: Encouraging teachers to view education through a broader, more inclusive lens.

A common concern among educators was the implementation: How do we move from paper to practice?

To address this, the Learning Scoop team compiled a comprehensive resource package. Since many of the themes (like mental health and SRGBV prevention) are new to the curriculum, these materials provide trainers with both the knowledge and the practical exercises needed to bring these subjects to life in the classroom.

Innovation Through Co-Creation

What made this pre-service teacher education reform in Liberia unique was the participatory approach. Instead of top-down instructions, the reform was built on:

• Dialogue and Negotiation: Workshops brought together teacher educators, ministry officials, and international experts.
• Active Methods: From gallery walks to intensive group work, every participant had a voice in shaping the content.
• Contextualization: Global themes—such as digital literacy, gender equality, inclusion, and green skills—were not just added; they were carefully integrated to fit the Liberian context

Looking Ahead

Liberia’s revision of pre-service teacher training is a giant leap toward a more inclusive and future-ready education system. By building stronger partnerships and focusing on competency-based learning, Liberia is positioning itself to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The work continues, with a focus on institutional capacity and the everyday integration of digital and green skills. Together, we are transforming teacher education into a driver of quality, equity, and national pride.

Finally, we would like to thank the RTIA facility – especially Ms. Iina Soiri and Team at National Agency of Education in Finland (EDUFI) for your help. Thank you Hon. Dr Jarso Maley Jallah, Liberia´s Minister of Education, Hon. Clifford Konah, Jr. Assistant Minister for Teacher Education and Mr. Saywalla S. Jallah, Director of the Bureau of Teacher Education at the Ministry of Education for the support. Congratulations to the Ministry of Education in Liberia, each and every stakeholder and participant for your active involvement and input throughout this process. Your contribution and support have been essential, and this milestone would not have been possible without your dedication. Together, we are building a stronger foundation for the next generation of Liberian educators.

What´s next? TA1 focused on curriculum reform and the next phase is TA2 which ensures implementation readiness. While TA1 redefined what future teachers need to learn, TA2 assesses and strengthens the capacity of Rural Teacher Training Institutes to deliver the revised ECE-C and Lower-Basic C curricula effectively. Team Learning Scoop is grateful for the trust and happy to facilitate that process.

Watch the journey in action: Video from the field
Read more about the initiative here.