An Appreciative Inquiry into the Experiences of Teachers and Students in Science Education in Liberian High Schools

The Republic of Liberia has experienced three distinct stages of educational development. The first stage consisted of informal and formal education practices prior to the nation’s independence in 1847 (Trye, 2020). The second stage spanned from independence through the end of the civil war in 2003, a period characterized by both the growth and decline of Western-style education (Trye, 2020). The third stage began in the post-civil war era, from 2003 to the present, marked by efforts to reconstruct and reform the national education system.
Politically, Liberia has made steady progress since the civil war, which lasted from 1989 to 2003. The National Elections Commission successfully conducted three democratic elections in 2005, 2011, and 2017, with a fourth post-war election anticipated in October 2023. Despite these political achievements, the educational sector continues to face numerous challenges, including limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, poorly equipped laboratories, and insufficiently trained science teachers.

Therefore, this study sought to explore the teaching

1. Braund, M. and Reiss, M. (2006). International Journal of Science Education, 28(12), 1373–88 Cobern, W. W. (1996). International Journal of Science Education, 18(3), 295-310. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Gilbert, J. K. (2006). International Journal of Science Education, 28(9), 957–76 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Kasanda, C., Lubben, F., Gaoseb, N., Kandjeo-Marenga, U., Kapenda, H. and Campbell, B. (2005). International Journal of Science Education, 27(15), 1805–23 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Nick, C. (2015) Common Anglophone curriculum under the West African Examinations Council, Editor World Education News and Review. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) 2019 WAEC Results Statistics [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Pilot, A. and Bulte, A. (2006). International Journal of Science Education, 28(9), 953–56 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Parchmann, I., Gräselb, C. Baerc, A., Nentwigc, P., Demuthc, R., Ralled B. and the ChiK Project Group (2006). International Journal of Science Education, 28(9), 1041–62 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Schwartz, A. T. (2006). International Journal of Science Education, 28(9), 977–98 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Temechegn E. (2000a). Structural Chemistry and Spatial Ability in Chemical Education: A Case of German and Ethiopian Secondary Schools. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, University of Muenster, Germany. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Temechegn, E.(2000b). Student Teaching in Non-Western Science Classrooms: Analysis of Views from Potential Participants in the Program. Journal of Science Education, 1(2), 86-93. Temechegn, E. (2000c). What Research Says About African Science Education. IER Flambeau, 8(1), 15-28. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Temechegn, E. (2002). Reflections on African Science Education for the New Millennium: The Case of the Ethiopian Chemistry Curriculum for Beginners. International Journal of Science Education, 24(9), 941-953. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Trye Jr, A. M. (2020). Faith Integration in Curriculum Development: A Need for an Integrated Curriculum in Post-Civil War Liberia. East African Journal of Education and Social Sciences (EAJESS), 1(1), 48-56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.46606/eajess2020v01i01.0005 URL: http://eajess.ac.tz [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. UNESCO PROAP (2001). The Training of Trainers Manual for Promoting Scientific and Technological Literacy (STL) for All. Bangkok, Thailand. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Assessment of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Repositioning TVET for Economic Development in Nigeria
• Teachers’ Use of Assure Model Instructional Design on Learners’ Problem Solving Efficacy in Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya
• “E-Booksan Ang Kaalaman”: Development, Validation, and Utilization of Electronic Book in Academic Performance of Grade 9 Students in Social Studies
• Analyzing EFL University Students’ Academic Speaking Skills Through Self-Recorded Video Presentation
• Major Findings of The Study on Total Quality Management in Teachers’ Education Institutions (TEIs) In Assam – An Evaluative Study