Learning to learn in Liberia

Learning to learn in Liberia

By Jonathan Paye-Layleh
BBC, Monrovia

Schools in Liberia have been vandalised, looted and abandoned in regions where the war has been fought between the government and rebels.

There are two school sessions to cope with the numbers

But at the 12,000 strong displaced peoples Jah Tondo Camp, in the western suburbs of the capital, Monrovia, is a new Unicef sponsored school.

It is meant to relax the minds of the children after the traumas they may have encountered, as well as expose them to academic activities, hence the name "Child Friendly Space".

Built out of local materials, the school runs two sessions - dealing with hundreds of displaced children, including very young ones.

Visitors to the school are accorded a standing ovation and greeted in unison as I experienced when I went into the classrooms.

Challenge

There are lots of displaced teachers in the camp, but not all of them are willing to teach the children in the absence of incentives.

You learn from the children and they learn from you

Liberian teacher

Not surprisingly, most of the children go to school barefoot.

Some are virtually naked or wear old, and worn-out shirts and trousers.

The school offers the children stabilty and they are able to tell their stories here, says teacher Mulbah Taylor.

"Most of their parents cannot afford to buy uniform, this is why Unicef has come out to help," he adds.

The "child-friendly" school is supported by Unicef

A few blocs away from Mulbah's class in the makeshift school building, a lady is busy using all the skills at her disposal to maintain order as well as teach children aged between two and four.

She told me: "It is very hectic, very challenging. You have to be patient, loving and caring.

" I love this job because I am a mother. You learn from the children and they learn from you."

Alphabet recital

But it takes more than patience to administer the affairs of an institution, which caters for children who are not only war-affected, but also from different backgrounds all over the country.

A donation of a football is gratefully received

"It is a problem for us, but as professionals we are making all effort to adjust to the situation," says the principal of the school Mr A. Momolu Zodua.

The facility is below standard, and the school is under-funded, but it has at least enabled hundreds of displaced children to know how to recite the 26 letters of the English alphabet.

However, educating refugees here also poses risks. On Tuesday this week another displaced persons camp west of the capital, at Ricks, was overrun by rebels. Hundreds of men and women were abducted.