Liberia (June 2017)

Following a first Microscience training workshop organized in Monrovia (Liberia) in 2016 and discussions between the Deputy Minister of Instruction and UNESCO, it was decided to organized a second training workshop in this country which the following purposes: (1) reach rural areas by organizing the workshop at the Kakata Rural Teacher Training Institute (KRTTI); (2) infiltrate the training into Liberia's education system by conducting the workshop for a group of adults who are currently trained within the B-certificate programme in order to become secondary basic/junior high school teachers and (3) promote active learning methodology and the use of hands-on material both in science and mathematics.

The workshop was attended by a group of around forty-five participants, currently trained to become mathematics or science teachers. A first part of training focused on the use of the active learning methodology in mathematics using of hands-on activities selected from the Imaginary programme’s modules, presented by a trainer from IMAGINARY GmbH. The Microscience kits were introduced by a second trainer from UNESCO. Teachers gained practical knowledge on the use of the Microscience kits as a hands-on tool to promote scientific experimentation and active learning in the classroom. They conducted experiments in three areas: biology, chemistry and water quality. The Microscience kits were provided by UNESCO Headquarters.