The College of Education at the University of Liberia (UL) is adequately prepared to begin offering an “AA” degree program in Early Childhood and Primary Education effective 2023/2024 academic year.

Through a USAID/TESTS (Transforming the Education System for Teachers and Students in Liberia) sponsorship, 150 students will be admitted into the College for the two-year program at absolutely no cost to students regarding any payment of fees or their stay in the dormitory.

Appearing on Truth 96.1 FM on Tuesday morning, October 4, 2022, Dr. Cecelia Cassell, Dean of the William V.S. Tubman College of Education, said USAID/TESTS will underwrite the cost. Dr. Cassell informed the public that students will only be required to sit and successfully pass the same entrance exams administered for the David A. Straz – Sinji candidates by the University of Liberia Testing Center and get admitted into the College of Education for the “AA” program. Additionally, she said, students from remote counties and even those within urban areas who may not want to shoulder transport costs will have the opportunity to reside at the university’s dormitory on the Fendall campus free of charge.

The entrance registration process is now ongoing at the Center for Testing and Evaluation (CTE), University of Liberia, and interested candidates are encouraged to take advantage of it.

Dr. Cassell explained that the College can admit 300 students, but USAID/TESTS sponsorship will only cover 150 students. She said it’s a five-year project through which USAID has to train about 3,500 teachers.

Regarding the requirements for enrolment, Dr. Casell said candidates must be high school graduates or above who are desirous of acquiring better training to be able to provide quality early childhood and primary education.

“Once you are a teacher in the classroom and you are not a trained teacher, you can come and take advantage of this,” she said.

The Dean of the College of Education detailed that residing in the dormitory is not a must, especially for those who own houses or who think that their work would not permit them to stay in the dormitory.

Electricity and water are provided at no cost to students under this USAID/TESTS sponsorship. This will greatly relieve students from remote and even urban places of the worries of having to pay rent or shoulder transport costs in commuting to Fendall.

“You can come and take advantage of this program because you will be provided with a free dormitory. USAID/TESTS is going to pay for dormitory accommodation for students,” said Dr. Cassell.

She said after the two years program, students will not have to start fresh for their bachelor’s degree program. 

Dr. Cassell explained that they can continue in their junior and senior years to get their full bachelor’s degrees.

She said she is happy that USAID/TESTS is here to provide the support needed to get the program going, noting that the curriculum for the program is ready to be rolled out.

“All we need now is for students to take advantage of the program. The good news is that this program will be sponsored by USAID/TESTS,” Dr. Cassell explained.