Project Description:

The project is a pilot of Peace, Human Rights and Citizenship Education (PEHCED) curriculum as a required subject at all grade levels.   UNESCO will support the Ministry of Education to provide in-service training to at least 1300 teachers in Lofa, Nimba and Grand Gedeh counties in effective instruction and to establish permanent support mechanisms from the national to local levels in the education system.  The project focus is to provide the students with knowledge and conflict resolution skills to create and promote peaceful co-existence.

Peacebuilding Impact: 

School going youth form an important core group in the nation constituting about one third of the population.  Therefore the effective teaching of peace, human rights and peace education to this group can provide manifold gains to the whole society.  While still at school this group interacts actively with their families and the community, hence they would be conveyors of the peace message through dialogue and changed behaviour. At the same time this group consists of future leaders and workers of the nation. If we can positively impact them and create appropriate behaviour change towards peace, reconciliation, appreciation of ethnic diversity, and peaceful conflict resolution then we would have gone a long way towards establishing a culture of peace in Liberia. Specific impacts are:

1) Greater tolerance among students and teachers, contributing towards better living together.

2) Acquisition of non-violent conflict resolution skills among students and teachers, resulting in better conflict management among this group and their communities in general.

Outcome(s): 

Specific outcomes of these interventions include:

• Behaviour change among the youth that would enhance conflict prevention, and provide them with tools for managing conflict when confronted by it;
• Better understanding of their human rights and concomitant responsibilities;
• Understanding of civic duties and responsibilities;
• Better understanding of their role in contributing towards a peaceful co-existence within their communities, nationally and internationally;

Outputs and Key Activities:

1.1)  Baseline and post-instruction analysis incidence of violence among teachers and students established in all schools in three counties.

1.2) 1,300 Teachers are trained and equipped with the skills to teach

Activities:

a)       Training 40 master trainers – 10 day workshop

b)       10 day workshops in districts in all three counties for teachers to train them in PEHCED instruction

c)       Refresher training for teachers– led by master trainers, clustering districts according to geographic region

d)       Printing and distribution of training manuals as well as further development of training materials and printing of manuals

2) Students instructed in the curriculum for three hours each week (as specified in the curriculum)

Activities:

a)       Teachers will teach PEHCED for three hours a week in schools

3) Students engage in extracurricular activities that reach out to out-of-school children and youth with PEHCED messages

Activities:

a)       School Outreach activities run by teachers and linked to activities of partners also working with out-of-school children and youth

Indicator and Benchmarks:

Dates 6 Months Benchmarks Indicators of Progress

First 6 Months

• Baseline survey
• Training of master trainers and teachers
  • Baseline survey completed, report submitted and discussed
  • The printing of all training manuals completed for distribution
  • 95% of master trainers demonstrate high training qualities and change in behavior.

Second 6 Months

• Teaching of PEHCED in schools
• In-service training of teachers completed
• Monitoring of the project conducted
  • 85% of teachers display improved teaching methods and changed behavior in interaction with students and colleagues.
  • 80% of teachers participate in in-service training, report about increased knowledge, skills and marked change in behavior and attitude.
  • 2 monitoring visits made to the field and report of  decrease in violent incidence/positive change recorded

Third 6 Months

• Teaching of PEHCED continues
• Evaluation process completed
  • Supervisors report professional pedagogical demonstration and positive change among teachers and students
  • External evaluation team carry out data collection and submit a report indicating acceptable and satisfactory impact of the project on both teacher and students.

Procurement:

• Vehicle …………………..1
• Computers……………….3
• Copier…………………….1
• Assorted furniture
• Assorted Stationery items