The Nigerian woman who sold two necklaces and never looked back

In a country where there are so many people in the beading business she separated herself from the pack by making high-end products with special gems. And for inspiration she started looking at design websites. “I knew I had to be different from every other beaded jewellery designer so I went online,” she told the BBC Africa’s Victor Okhai. Now Mrs Balogun runs two outlets in Lagos, has a weekly television show about jewellery and trains other beaders.

 

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Abimbola Balogun: “If I look back, I would say I am humbled.” Six years ago Nigeria’s Abimbola Balogun – affectionately called Bimbo – was a frustrated graduate, trained in petroleum marketing but coming to the sad realisation that it was going to be very difficult for her to get a job in the oil industry. So at 29 she went out on a bead stringing course. She says that she just wanted something that kept her busy until “the real thing came” and she found a proper job.

“Now the beading has overshadowed the real thing,” Mrs Balogun told the BBC series African Dream. And she exploded with laughter. She has, indeed, many reasons to be happy. “I knew I had to be different from every other beaded jewellery designer so I went online.” She started her business with an investment of just 400 naira ($2.5, £1.6) which bought her enough beads to make two necklaces. She sold them for 5,000 naira – more than 1,100% profit – reinvested the money and never looked back.

In a country where there are so many people in the beading business she separated herself from the pack by making high-end products with special gems. And for inspiration she started looking at design websites. “I knew I had to be different from every other beaded jewellery designer so I went online,” she told the BBC Africa’s Victor Okhai. Now Mrs Balogun runs two outlets in Lagos, has a weekly television show about jewellery and trains other beaders. Her company, Bimbeads Concept, is now worth around five million naira and has five employees.

Pride in African colours

Mrs Balogun is aware that in Nigeria, like in many other parts of Africa, women are becoming increasingly proud of their local cultures.

Abimbola Balogun

Abimbola Balogun

  • Age: 35
  • Higher National Diploma (HND) of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Nigeria
  • Started Bimbeads in 2006
  • Her company has five full time employees
  • Vice-president of Beaded Jewelry Designers Association of Nigeria
  • Studied Entrepreneurial Management at the Lagos Business School

Good quality colourful beads – including precious and semi-precious stones – that match their outfit are preferred by many of them to expensive gold or pearls. To a great extent that is probably why her range has had such an appeal. “My designs are different because they are customised… They are designs that are uniquely and individually crafted,” the entrepreneur explained. She says that she knew very little when she started out but has learnt everything on the job. She has also continued studying. After starting her business, she got a scholarship from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Woman Initiative to study Entrepreneurial Management at the Lagos Business School.

Mrs Balogun also talks about the importance of networking and of women working together to achieve success. She speaks at mentoring and motivational events and is a member of a number of organisations, including the Nigeria Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW), a platform of Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA). “I started by calling myself a mobile trainer. So I was going from one house to the other, training people and earning some money but when I joined NNEW I was advised to take the bold step to get an outlet which I did,” she said. “Of course, I was scared. I had the fear of failing but the passion kept me going.”

High-profile clients

She later moved to a bigger place and opened a second outlet, also in Lagos.

A necklace According to Mrs Balogun, her designs are “uniquely and individually crafted”

“My products cut across all classes of people: Lower, medium and the upper upper class,” Mrs Balogun said. According to her, she has some very high-profile clients, including wives of governors and kings, and women in politics. Mrs Balogun added that her weekly slot in the TV programme Every Woman’s World has also helped to increase her clientele. “That actually was one of the things that made me popular,” she explained. She said that the major problem she has encountered is that in Nigeria “everybody wants to reckon with the successful, nobody wants to give the growing ones a chance. If your name is not there, if you’re not one of the first three top designers, then you’re nowhere.

“With consistency, passion and hard work I was able to overcome all of that,” she said. Now her dream is to add – like precious beads to a necklace – new outlets to her company and expand across Nigeria and West Africa.  African Dream is broadcast on the BBC Network Africa programme every Monday morning, and on BBC World News throughout the day on Fridays.

Culled from BBC. Read more on this story at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/Africa  

The bus boss who fought against ‘African time’

This story was culled from BBC. A BBC’s series African Dream that is broadcast on the BBC Network Africa programme every Monday morning and every week, one successful business man or woman explains how they started off and what others could learn from them. Born in neighbouring Burundi, Mr Nizeyimana had moved to Rwanda after the 1994 genocide, and was studying for a degree in management. Here is the full story previously carried on BBC on Febraury 28, 2012

Olivier Nizeyimana      Mr Nizeyimana’s long term vision is to expand his business internationally

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When Olivier Nizeyimana was a student, the journey to Rwanda’s National University would sometimes take him ages so he thought it would be a good idea to start a bus company that made punctuality one of its core values. “People learn from problems. Sometimes in business, a problem can be an opportunity,” he told the BBC’s series African Dream. Born in neighbouring Burundi, Mr Nizeyimana had moved to Rwanda after the 1994 genocide, and was studying for a degree in management. In 1999, a year before graduation, he launched his Volcanoes Transport Company. “I had only one route. Then I’ve been expanding all the way. Now we have a really big company which is networking all the towns of the southern region of Rwanda, linking them with the capital, Kigali,” he said. “When I started I had that challenge of this so-called ‘African time’… The first five years this was terrible, to tell people that time is time and time is money.”
Fortunately for him, he managed to start the company because he had found someone who believed in his dream. “I couldn’t get a loan from a bank. I was so young. I met the boss of the company Akagera Motors, the exclusive representative of Toyota Corporation here in Rwanda. I said: ‘I have a project. I want to start a business. Can you please help me? Can you please supply buses on credit so that I can be paying every month?’,” he remembers. “I didn’t make it a big deal, I was young, I just went and I said: ‘If he says no, it’s OK’. Fortunately, he said yes. No complications.”

 

Mr Nizeyimana was also lucky that his family could help him to raise the 17m Rwandan francs ($28,000, £18,000) he was asked for as a down-payment. “But the biggest part was given by the company, by Akagera Motors, my supplier, and I started with two buses. I have now more than 60,” he said. ‘African time’ The entrepreneur believes that at the moment his business is worth more than $3m.

Olivier Nizeyimana

  • Age: 39
  • Married, with three children
  • Bachelor’s degree in Management, Rwanda’s National University
  • MBA, Maastricht School of Management, The Netherlands
  • Started his Volcanoes Transport Company in 1999
  • Employs around 250 people
  • Loves football, is a Barcelona fan, and is the new president of the Mukura Football Club in Butare, Rwanda

 

“When I started, I had four staff with myself and now I have about 250,” he told BBC Africa’s Prudent Nsengiyumva at Kigali’s main bus station, commonly known as Nyabugogo, where he conducted the interview. “I am always here. I’m working with them. Sometimes I’m driving the bus myself. I want to be close to my clients. I take about one day driving on the roads with my drivers; they are like friends or brothers.

“This is very important. They raise the commitment. They feel they own the company. They are much involved in the company’s success. This company is not mine. This company is ours.” Mr Nizeyimana says that he not only provides jobs to drivers but also to ticket sellers, cleaners and other employees. His top wage is $2,000 a month while the lowest is $100.

According to him, one of the biggest initial challenges he faced was punctuality. In many African countries, regional buses do not depart until they are full but he wanted to do something different. “The first time I took only two passengers. The second, I took only one [on a two-and-a-half-hour journey]. After one week the level was about 10 people for each bus but now I’m satisfied. I have 20-22 people; this would be the average, 22 passengers a bus. “When I started I had that challenge of this so-called ‘African time’. I thought I could change it and actually I’ve changed it. The first five years this was terrible, to tell people that time is time and time is money, but now they’re OK.”

His company has two types of vehicles, with 25 and 29 seats. The highest ticket costs 3,000 Rwandan francs ($5, £3) and the cheapest 500 francs ($0.80; £0.50). His initial schedule saw buses departing every three hours and now, after the growth of his business, they leave every 30 minutes.

Long term vision

What would he recommend budding African entrepreneurs?

“The first advice is that they have to take risk. You can’t earn anything without taking risk. Just make a first step. If the first step is a good one, the following will be easier.” Mr Nizeyimana – who in 2009 earned an MBA from Maastricht School of Management in The Netherlands – believes that a good first step to raising capital is to have a business plan based on a sound market study. “For business, the problem is not only how to get money, how to get capital, but it’s also how to use that money, how to be able to pay it back and to gain money also because you don’t work for nothing, you have to earn something in return.”

His long term vision is to expand his business internationally, to countries like neighbouring Uganda and more distant Kenya. Last week, on 22 February, he began to make his international dream come true by opening a new line connecting Kigali to Bujumbura, Burundi’s capital, three times a day. So now you know, if one day you would like to travel with his company, be there on time. Otherwise you might have to wait for the next bus. Luckily for consumers, at least in the Kigali-Bujumbura route, there are other companies operating so you may not have to wait for too long.

African Dream is broadcast on the BBC Network Africa programme every Monday morning. Every week, one successful business man or woman will explain how they started off and what others could learn from them.

Send us your story, picture or comments for a daily feature

Unemployment worldwide to hit 202 million

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the wordwide unemployment is expected to rise to 202 million in 2012. The rise in the unemployment is about  six percent increase from 2011. Reports

Reuters

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GENEVA (Reuters) – Fiscal austerity and tough labor reforms have failed to create jobs, leading to an “alarming” situation in the global employment market that shows no sign of recovering, the International Labour Organization said on Sunday. In advanced countries, especially in Europe, employment is not expected to return to pre-crisis levels of 2008 until the end of 2016 — two years later than it previously predicted — in line with a slowdown in production. An estimated 196 million people were unemployed worldwide at the end of last year, forecast to rise to 202 million in 2012 for a rate of 6.1 percent, according to the United Nations agency’s annual flagship report, “World of Work Report 2012”.

“Austerity has not produced more economic growth,” Raymond Torres, director of the ILO Institute for International Labour Studies, told a news briefing. “The ill-conceived labor market reforms in the short-term cannot work either. These reforms in situations of crisis tend to lead to more job destruction and very little job creation at least in the short-term,” said Torres, the report’s lead author. Long-term jobseekers are demoralized and an average of 40 percent of job seekers in their prime (aged 25-49) in advanced countries have been without work for more than a year, the report found. Youth jobless rates have soared, increasing the risk of social unrest especially in parts of Africa and the Middle East. The labor market overall has deteriorated over the past six months, with a very significant slowdown in the case of European countries, Torres said. Unemployment is growing in a significant number of countries, including more than two-thirds of European countries over the past year.

“The narrow focus of many Eurozone countries on fiscal austerity is deepening the jobs crisis and could even lead to another recession in Europe,” he said. “In addition, there is less progress happening in other parts of the world, for example the United States, where progress in reducing unemployment seems to be slowing down and this seems to be a trend,” he said. Labor market recovery has also stalled in Japan, the report said. Employment rates have stagnated or “double-dipped” in China, India and Saudi Arabia, while Latin America is healthier, marked by improvements in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. “ILL-CONCEIVED REFORMS” “The report clearly points to the combination of austerity measures with ill-conceived labor market reforms as the real cause for deterioration happening in Europe and little by little spreading to other parts of the world,” Torres said.

In Spain, unemployment shot up to 24 percent in the first quarter, its highest level in almost two decades and one of the worst jobless figures in the developed world, according to figures issued last Friday. Standard and Poor’s downgraded the government’s debt by two notches. The number of jobless in France rose for the eleventh month in March to hit the highest level since September 1999, according to labor ministry data released on Thursday. The EU, which generates about a fifth of global output, has struggled to strike a balance between austerity and growth as it seeks to overcome a decade of runaway spending while grappling with recession. Only six advanced economies have seen employment rates grow since 2007: Austria, Germany, Israel, Luxembourg, Malta and Poland. The report recommends countries would do better to boost job quality and reinforce institutions, rather than deregulating labor markets.

It also suggests better use of European Structural Funds as well as an increase in minimum wages in European countries “as a way to put a floor on recession in Europe.” “At the ILO we understand that fiscal deficits cannot remain high for long. It is important to have a medium-term fiscal consolidation strategy,” Torres said. “But it is a question of pace and of content of fiscal consolidation. The pace has to be realistic,” he said.

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Sophie Walker) Reuters – Sun, Apr 29, 2012

Turning Brain Drain into a Brain Gain

By Dr. Sakui W. G. Malakpa

Malakpa, Sakui W. G. Prof. (2005). Turning brain drain into brain gain. Liberian Studies Journal, XXX (2), 29-39.

It has been postulated that a major impediment to Africa’s socio-economic development is the incessant flow of skilled human resources from the continent to the developed world (Nyikuli, 1999; Kigotho, 2002; Mutume, 2003).  The contention is that this flow (referred to as the “brain drain”) depletes Africa of intellectuals/scholars, medical and health personnel, engineers, scientists, etc., who are needed to contribute to the development of the continent (Devan, & Tewari, 2001; Kigotho, 2002; Mutume, 2003).  Some observers attribute this “drain” to several factors.  For instance, it is alleged that the African intelligentsia are greedy gravy seekers who turn their backs on the countries that educated them although such countries need them (Shikwati, 2000; Malakpa, 2005). Other observers charge that brains flow out of Africa because developed countries are insensitive, callous, and rapacious in their bid to enhance their development further irrespective of how draining hurts the developing world. For example, some have accused Britain of poaching intellectuals and health workers from Africa. Still, other observers argue that sometimes (if not often), brains are not “drained” but “driven” by the developing world (Nyikuli, 1999; Shikwati, 2000; Tebeje, 2005; Malakpa, 2005). Whether Africa’s skilled human resources are “drained” by the developed world or “driven” by African countries, the truth remains that the departure of skilled human resources negatively affects socio-economic development in Africa (Nyikuli, 1999; Devan & Tewari, 2001). Based on this realization, it is necessary to discuss the extent of the brain drain problem and briefly touch on its causes. Furthermore, this work will cover the Liberian situation, first arguing that the “drain” is not a total loss.  Additionally, this work will show howLiberiacan benefit from strategies and approaches employed in other places to turn the brain drain into a brain gain.

Magnitude of the Problem: Kigotho (2002) accentuates that the departure of skilled professionals from sub-Saharan Africa poses a serious concern because the loss of such persons to the developed world is a major threat to the region’s economic development. When this topic was discussed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa, it was disclosed that in less than twenty years, sub-Saharan Africa “lost a third of its skilled professionals and had to replace them with over 100,000 expatriates from the West at a cost of US$4 billion a year” (Kigotho, 2002, p1; Mutume, 2003). It was further disclosed that “between 1985 and 1990 Africa lost over 60,000 middle-level and high-level managers to Western economies. In addition, about 23,000 lecturers from African universities emigrate each year. The biggest migratory flows are from Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana in that order” (Kigotho 2002, p2). The flow of skilled professionals from Africa affects every sector of development. However, “The UN Development Programme (UNDP) notes that in Africa, the loss of medical doctors has been the most striking” (Mutume, 2003, p1). Along this line, Pang, Lansang, & Haines (2002) generally point out that “migration of medical professionals from developing countries has become a major concern. This brain drain worsens the already depleted healthcare resources in poor countries and widens the gap in health inequities worldwide” (p1).

As a result there is blood flow into the penile region gets hampered. buy levitra viagra Male enhancement supplement can only improve your sex life and satisfies your partner but no thrusting, and the last stage is now the djpaulkom.tv purchase generic viagra thrusting. More importantly, whether, you are buying generic meds from a web chemist then it has a natural gift also with cheapest viagra tablets it. Key ingredients in Night Fire capsules are the best herbal remedies for sexual weakness in men are past sexual trauma, tiredness, anxiety, cheapest tadalafil online stress, negative feelings, fear and depression. The constant flow of medical doctors and health personnel out of Africa is illustrated by the finding that, although health and medical needs are humongous in Africa, a third to one-half of graduates from South African medical schools emigrate to the developed world (Pan, Lansang, & Haines, 2002). Canada offers attractive salaries and benefits in a bid to hire a large number of these doctors. Consequently, South Africa strongly appealed to the government of Canada to desist from recruiting its medical professionals. South Africa’s concern and subsequent appeal were justified because, in Canada’s rural province of Saskatchewan alone, “more than 50 per cent of doctors are foreign trained and at least 1 in 5 of the 1,530 doctors there earned their first medical degree in South Africa“(Mutume, 2003, p5). In West Africa, “at least 60 per cent of doctors trained in Ghana during the 1980s have left the country” (Mutume, 2003, p1). In like manner, there are 22,000 Nigerian medical doctors in the US alone (UNCDF, 2005). The flight of health and medical personnel out of Africa is not limited to doctors alone.  This is exemplified by the finding that 18000 Zimbabwean nurses seek employment abroad (Pan et al, 2002). In education, African schools continue to lose qualified teachers to the developed world(www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1173620.stm, 2001). However, this problem is not limited to primary and secondary schools.  At the tertiary level, university professors, skilled researchers, and qualified staff members incessantly stream out of Africa for positions abroad (Shikwati, 2000; Nyikuli, Akpotu & Nwadiani, 2002). Likewise, in social work, the Zimbabwe National Association of Social Workers estimates that “1,500 of the country’s 3,000 trained social workers left for the UK during the last 10 years” (Mutume, 2003, p5).

Reasons for the Continuous Flight of Human Capital: Although brain drain is a major impediment to socio-economic development in Africa, this flow of skilled human resources continues because of a number of factors. For instance, as pointed out earlier, it is alleged that the African intelligentsia and skilled individuals leave the continent (as greedy gravy seekers) in search of greener pastures abroad (Kigotho, 2002; Malakpa, 2005). Other fingers point to governments of the developed world who poach developing countries of their skilled human resources.  However, overwhelmingly, the literature attributes the success of brain drain to problems and poor conditions in developing countries. For example, it is contended that, “limited job opportunities and education facilities, a lower standard of living and security, and lack of professional recognition are among the factors that have caused many African workers, especially those with professional skills, to seek work outside the continent” (Nyikuli, 1999, p1). Referring to the departure of medical and health workers fromAfrica, Pang, Lansang, and Haines (2002) cite key causes such as “poor remuneration, bad working conditions, an oppressive political climate, persecution of intellectuals, and discrimination. Researchers cite lack of funding, poor facilities, limited career structures, and poor intellectual stimulation” (p499).  Other personal reasons for skilled personnel emigrating fromAfricainclude “security, the threat of violence, and the wish to provide a good education for their children” (Pang et al, 2002, p.499).

While personal reasons for the flight of skilled human capital from Africa are always a consideration, such reasons seem to be outweighed by the fear, threat, or possibility of political persecution. For example, Amnesty International, a highly respected human rights organization, presents a 2001 annual report covering North Africa and the Middle-East to show that, gross human right violations took place throughout much of the Middle East and North Africa. They ranged from extrajudicial executions to widespread use of torture and unfair trials, harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders. Freedom of expression and association continued to be curtailed; the climate of impunity remained and the victims were still awaiting steps to bring those responsible for past human rights violations to justice (Amnesty International Report, 2001, p2). The Amnesty International Report (2001) cites specific country examples from North Africa which are not much different (if at all) from other parts of Africa. In Algeria, the security forces enjoy impunity in the midst of violence and disappearances. Yet, no independent and impartial investigations are carried out to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.  In Egypt, torturing occurs in police stations with people dying in prison under mysterious circumstances. Thousands of people are imprisoned under conditions which are tantamount to “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment” (Amnesty International Report, 2001, p3). At the same time, human right defenders are targeted; they are harassed and legally restricted (Amnesty International Report).

The targeting of human right defenders has escalated in Tunisia where at least a thousand political prisoners (most of them prisoners of conscience) languish behind bars. Likewise, in Libya, hundreds of political prisoners are behind bars without charges or trials, and political prisoners are routinely tortured. In Morocco, there are arbitrary arrests and disappearances and yet, perpetrators are not brought to trial. There is constant violation of freedom of expression and consequent imprisonment of prisoners of conscience (Amnesty International Report, 2001).

TOWARD QUALITY EDUCATION IN LIBERIA

(This was published in the Liberian Studies journal as follows: Prof. Malakpa, Sakui W. G. (2009). Toward quality education in Liberia. The Liberian Studies Journal, XXXIII  (1), 23-31.

TOWARD QUALITY EDUCATION IN LIBERIA

Scholars and disciplines view education from different perspectives.  Economics of education views education as a form of investment in human beings. Education therefore is regarded as capable of yielding economic benefits and contributing to a nation’s future wealth by increasing the productive capacity of its people (Bonal, 2007; Patrinos, 2000; Psacharopoulos, 1993). On the other hand, humanists and existentialists see education as the development of the whole being and the advancement of his or her environment and culture (Malakpa, 1996; Schilling, 1986).

Advocates of holistic education postulate that education transcends the confines of subject knowledge accumulation and emphasizes “mastering the instruments of learning and the application of knowledge in a variety of contexts” (UNESCO, 1996 p. 86). Furthermore, holistic education views this field as a process of “learning and understanding, developing personal competences, learning to live with others and the education of the whole person. For example, “education must contribute to the all-round development of each individual-mind and body, intelligence, sensitivity, esthetic sense, personal responsibility and spiritual values” (UNESCO, 1996, p. 94). Holistic education also sees the field of education in terms of life-long learning in a constantly changing world which requires new and varied expertise. From this perspective,

It is not enough to supply each child early in life with a store of knowledge to be drawn on from then on. Each individual must be equipped to seize learning opportunities throughout life, both to broaden her or his knowledge, skills and attitudes, and to adapt to a changing, complex and interdependent world. (UNESCO, 1996, p. 85). However defined, the truth is that from the left, right and center, the importance and contributive value of education cannot be overemphasized.

This work therefore focuses on the importance of increasing quality education in Liberia.  The purpose of this endeavor is not to criticize but offer views and examples of quality education in sister developing (especially sub-Saharan African) countries.  It is hoped that this discourse will add to the directions and suggestions for increasing quality education in Liberia.

Quality: Materu (2007), looking at quality of higher education in sub-Saharan Africa defines quality as “fitness for purpose; that is, meeting or conforming to generally accepted standards as defined by an institution, quality assurance bodies and/or appropriate academic and professional communities” (p. 3). Using South Africa as a prime example, Motala (2001) explores the literature for the definition of quality as related to primary and secondary education in Africa. Fuller (1986) (cited in Motala, 2001) stresses that definitions of quality emanate from four views of schooling: “a production function model with an input-output view; school quality as existing in the relationships between teacher and student, supported by a positive school climate; school quality as a function of classroom and school organisation (time on task and a well-managed school structure); and quality as symbolic” (p. 67).

Adams(1993) argues that quality is popularly understood as something exceptional, as effectiveness or fitness for purpose, as providing value for money, or as transformative or empowering—adding value). Likewise, Webbstock (1994) notes that any conception of quality in education must be relevant to its changing context, and that a workable notion should include “fitness of purpose” and “value-added” approaches. She describes these as entailing “assessing fitness for a defined purpose as well as assessing, through performance indicators and participants’ perceptions,” the extent to which value has been added  (p. 7).

In stressing the notion of quality as empowering or transforming, Kissack and Meyer (cited in Motala, 2001) advance the concept of “empowering agency” which they envisage as having two dimensions: (A) cre­ating epistemological access, and (B) developing the capability of all education role players to exer­cise judgment (p. 68). Increased Quality Education in Liberia: Given the definitions of education and quality, this work offers suggestions for increasing quality education in Liberia. In addition to the inputs of Malakpa (1988-89; 1990; 2005; 2006), suggestions are based on examples from sister sub-Saharan African countries. It is hoped that where these elements already exist in Liberia, they will be strengthened and where they are wanting, they will be considered.

For years, Malakpa (1988-89; 1990) has written and spoken about the elusive trio in quality education in Liberia. He cites the trio as: (A) skilled, insightful, and realistic planning implementation of education in Liberia, (B) accurate and inclusive history of Liberia, and (C) ensuring that the curriculum includes Liberian languages and reflects invaluable values of Liberian culture (Malakpa, 1990).  In addition, Malakpa (2005; 2006) emphasizes incessantly that insisting on special education programs in Liberia will buttress the quality of education in the country. Such programs, inter alia, render the nation’s education system holistic.  Furthermore, like other areas of education, they yield quantifiable and unquantifiable private and public returns. It is therefore difficult to achieve quality education in Liberia without considering these factors.

 

Equally relevant to increasing quality education in Liberia are examples and experiences from other developing countries (especially sister nations in sub-Saharan Africa). From a South African perspective, Motala (2001) maintains that, “conceptualization of quality must be guided by political and social transformation processes, local needs, and global influences — parti­cularly economic and educational influences” (p. 62).

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Also as advocated in South Africa, the quest for quality cannot be “used for purposes of exclusion, domination and political advantage.”  Rather, quality and access “must include learning, new forms of knowledge, and must lead to “cognitive equity” (Motala, 2001, p. 67). Of particular importance is that redistributing resources is not sufficient in itself; it must entail creating conditions for the equity of learning achievement (Crouch, 1996; Motala, 2001). Motala, (2001) adds other dimensions for achieving quality in education. These include fiscal discipline, and a strong reaction to inequitable and ineffective government policies, factors that must be considered in the Liberian context.

Crucial also to the enhancement of quality is a critical discussion and reexamination of performance indicators. What, for example, are the goals of education and what does the government regard as quality education? To what extent is a school system performing vis-à-vis the delineated standard of quality? How is this performance measured?

In addressing the foregoing questions in the South African context, it is said that “the stated goals which underlie the use of performance indicators … are equity, access, redress and quality. The use of the matriculation examination as the only indicator of school performance is being challenged” (Motala, 2001, p. 69). Rather, policy researchers and analysts propose a much less simplistic approach to the assessment of both student achievement and quality (Motala, 2001). It behooves Liberia to seek a similar path within the context of its socio-economic and socio-political reality. Similarly, like South Africa,Liberia Will do well to emphasize improvement of “education management capacity, particularly school-based management, to bring about quality, effectiveness and efficiency in the education sector” (Motala, 2001 p. 70).

Osei (2006) also discusses quality education but with reference to Ghana. He argues that, like many of its regional neighbors (and there’s reason to believe that Liberia is no exception),Ghana’s education is far from achieving quality. This is because Ghana allegedly emphasizes policies and practices antithetical to the maximization of quality education. For example, Osei (2006) charges that Ghana’s education depends on an “archaic, centrally controlled schooling system which does not have room for all willing post-primary students and which is orientated towards producing clerks and civil servants” (p. 41). Instead of such a trend, Ghana and Liberia, which have experienced different crises, need to restructure their educational systems to maximize quality and thereby prepare students to compete effectively in a global market.

Osei (2006) delineates other policies and practices that are antithetical to the promotion of quality education in Ghanaian schools. To cite a few, students are encouraged “to learn by rote and produce lists of facts in compulsory examinations, an approach which neither stimulates creativity nor provides better foundations in English, mathe­matics and computer skills, all of which are needed to develop a globally competitive economy” (Osei, 2006, p. 42).

Other possible reasons for low quality education in Ghana include: “the stagnant expenditure per pupil; a largely under-qualified teaching force; rivalry between local and central bureaucracies; insufficient monitoring of the system or feedback; and the lack of incentives for improvement” (Osei, 2006, p. 42). Hence, Asare-Bediako and Boachie-Danquah (1995) (cited in Osei, 2006) identify the main problem as: “inappropriately centralised quality control, bureaucratic profit-making and ill-defined educational objectives” (p. 42).Liberia faces similar problems and can increase quality of education by addressing these crucial issues.

Michaelowa & Wittmann (2008) contribute to the discourse by looking at quality of education in Francophone African countries. Based on experiences from these countries, it is emphasized that Quality in education is unreachable without addressing quality of teacher training, low teacher motivation, teacher remuneration, school environments, and student-teacher ratio (Michaelowa & Wittmann, 2008). In addition to teacher remuneration, the type and quality of teacher family surroundings have been found to contribute to the quality of education. This link was found in Zimbabwe(Chivore 1988), the Anglophone part of Cameroon(Abangma, 1981),Sierra Leone(Banya and Elu, 1997) and in Tanzania,Zambia, and Uganda(Postlethwaite 1998).

In considering change in development education from the perspective of complexity theory, Mason (2009), stresses that quality must be inextricably related to equity. Put differently, achieving quality education must be synonymous to reducing (preferably eliminating) provision or exclusion of services on the basis of region, gender, disability, ethnicity, etc. A quest for quality education in Liberia must emphasize this point because of the finding that “inequalities in education in any society lie primarily … in inequities that can probably be traced back to the big four: socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, gender, and space/region” (Mason, 2009, p. 119).

In the quest for quality education,Liberia also can benefit from a broad perspective relative to sub-Saharan Africa. For example, Heneveld (1994) argues that as nations in sub-Saharan Africa plan and monitor quality education, they must revise current assumptions that inform methods of policy and planning. To this end, nations in the region must realize that school-level factors are intertwined with, and not independent of, national policies. Hence, national policies must be woven in a fabric that comes together with school-level factors to form a social system which strongly impacts the learning that occurs in schools (Heneveld, 1994). An important feature of the research phase of this process is ensuring that work on quality is indigenized with emphasis on local writers, researchers, etc.. (Motala, 2001).

Summary and Conclusion: In advocating quality education in Liberia, it need be realized that scholars and disciplines view education differently.  Likewise, “quality” is defined from different perspectives. However defined, quality education is a must for Liberia. To realize increased quality education in Liberia, this work advances suggestions from several perspectives. Malakpa (1988-89; 1990; 2005; 2006) stresses the importance of addressing what he terms “the elusive trio in quality education in Liberia.” He also accentuates the inclusion of special education services and programs in schools.

Similarly, suggestions are offered from the experiences and perspectives of sister sub-Saharan African countries. The South African experience shows that quality cannot be reached with policies of exclusion and domination; rather both the education system and national educational policies must embrace and promote equity. Likewise, to achieve quality education, there must be fiscal discipline and strong reaction to ineffective government policies. Furthermore, the quest for quality education must include a critical examination of performance indicators (Motala, 2001).

From a Ghanaian viewpoint, quality education is unreachable in the face of an archaic centrally controlled system. Also, a national education system that encourages students to learn by rote does not contribute to the development of skills needed in a competitive global economy. Quality education equally will remain elusive when a nation has a large under-qualified teaching force and there are no incentives for improvement (Osei, 2006).

Experiences from Francophone African countries indicate that impediments to quality education include inadequate or ineffective teacher training programs, low teacher motivation, nugatory teacher remuneration, poor school environments, and disproportionate student-teacher ratio. It also was found that the type and quality of teacher family surroundings were strongly contributive to quality education (Michaelowa & Wittmann, 2008). In addition, a broad sub-Saharan African perspective emphasizes that, to achieve quality education in the region, national policies must be intertwined with school-level factors to promote learning (Heneveld, 1994). A crucial aspect of this process must be the indigenization of quality; that is, to promote quality, there must be strong emphasis on the use of local authors, materials, processes and methods.

In conclusion, it is axiomatic that no nation can develop at an acceptable pace, let alone a desirable pace without developing skilled human resources. The education sector therefore is a crucial partner in the socio-economic and socio-cultural development process as it is a vital means of developing human resources. Thus, if Liberia is to accelerate and buttress socio-economic development in the post-war era, and in the face of the ramifications of the war, more than ever, the nation must promote and enhance quality education. To achieve this goal,Liberia Must institute stringent policies and practices for the promotion of quality education.  For example, among others, heavy emphasis must be placed on teacher education, teacher remuneration, in-service education for practicing teachers, decentralization and indigenization of the education system, and reconsideration of performance assessment alongside criteria for rating schools and school districts throughout the country. Put succinctly, overall, the education sector in Liberia has contributed enormously to the nation. However, if this sector is to play its expected role effectively and efficiently, it must institute drastic changes to achieve its myriad goals and objectives.

 References

Abangma, M. A. (1981). A study of primary teachers’ attitudes towards ruralisation of school curriculum in English speaking Cameroon. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis,University of London,London. Adams, D., 1993. Defining educational quality.Pittsburgh: Institute for International Research.

Banya,   K. & Elu, J. (1997). Implementing basic education: An African experience.   International Review of Education, 43 (5-6), 481-496.

Bonal, X. (2007). On global absences: Reflections on the failings in the education and poverty relationship in Latin America. International Journal of Educational Development, 27 (1), 86-100.

Chivore, B.   R. S. (1988). Factors determining the attractiveness of the teaching   profession in Zimbabwe.   International Review of Education, 34 (1), 59-78.

Crouch, L., 1996. Notes on a national education management information system proposal: From data to indicators. (Report Prepared for the National Department of Education,Pretoria, South Africa). Heneveld, W. (1994). Planning and monitoring the quality of primary education in sub-Saharan Africa(Technical Note No. 14.)Washington,DC: Technical Department Africa Region, World Bank.

Malakpa, S. W. G. (1988-89). The elusive trio in quality education in LiberiaLiberian Studies Journal, XII(2), 178-186. Malakpa, S. W. G. (1990). Myths, miseries and mysteries of educational planning in Liberia:  Basis for refutationThe Liberia Forum, 5 (8), 63-69. Malakpa, S. W. G. (1994). The role of special education and rehabilitation in post-war resettlement and reconstructionLiberian Studies Journal, XIX(1), 1-11.

Malakpa, S. W.G. (1996). Toward cultural pluralism in education. Liberian Studies Journal, XXI(1), 50-71. Malakpa, S. W. G. (2005). Toward a disability legislation in Liberia. The Perspective.  http://www.theperspective.org/malakpa.html. Malakpa, S. W. G. (2006). Dollars and sense in special education and rehabilitation. The Perspective.http://www.theperspective.org/articles/1025200601.html

Mason, M. (2009). Making educational development and change sustainable: Insights from complexity theory. International Journal of Educational Development, 29, 117–124. Materu, P. (2007). Higher education quality assurance in sub-Saharan Africa: Status, challenges, opportunities, and promising practices. Washington, DC: Africa region Human Development Department, The World BankMichaelowa, K. & Wittmann, E. (2008). The cost, satisfaction, and achievement of primary education—evidence from Francophone sub-Saharan Africa. The Journal of Developing Areas, 41 (1), 51-78. Motala, S. (2001). Quality and indicators of quality in South African education: A critical appraisal. International Journal of Educational Development, 21, 61–78.

Osei,   G. M. (2006). Teachers in Ghana:   Issues of training, remuneration and effectiveness. International Journal of Educational Development, 26 (2), 38–51.

Patrinos, H. A. (2000). Market forces in education. European Journal of Education, 35(1), 61-80. Psacharopoulos, G. (1993). Returns to investment in education: A global update (WPS 1067).Washington,DC: Office of the Director, Latin America and the Caribbean, The World Bank. Schilling, D. E. (1986).  Managing motivational needs of the gifted and talented.  G/C/T, 9 (3), 2-5. UNESCO (1996). ‘The four pillars of education’, in Learning: The treasure within: Report to UNESCO of the International Commission on Education for the Twenty First Century, pp. 85–97. Paris: Author. Webbstock, D., 1994. “Quality” in a changing South Africa. South African Agency for Academic Development News 2 (1), 00–00.

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POST WAR MONROVIA, THE DENSELY POPULATED CAPITAL OF LIBERIA

By James Jornyoun, Contributor.

  In recent years I have had the opportunity to interact with people who have visited Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia. I overheard people talking about how the City of Monrovia has become densely populated. I am amazed by the response I get when I asked the same people what they think should be done regarding the densely populated Monrovia. I get the obvious response such as “The Government needs to do something about it,” or “some of Monrovia’s current residents are people from the heartland of Liberia.” As a result of the dense population, there are limited parking spaces. In addition to regular taxi cabs and buses for public transportation, motor cycles, (commonly called “pan pan”) are used as a major form of public transportation, creating an eye sore and an element of danger. Motor cycles were rarely used for commercial transportation in Monrovia prior to the crises; now they are a major source of accidents in the city.

Before going into the issues of Monrovia’s dense population, let’s look at some historical synopses of Monrovia, Liberia. By looking at these historical analyses we will be able to understand the underlying cause of the problem the City of Monrovia has with regard to the population density. We will also be able to create balance instead of shifting blames on the 14 years civil crisis that overwhelmed Monrovia as well as the entire country. The City of Monrovia was established by the American Colonization Society in 1822 as a home for freed slaves. Monrovia was named in honor of James Monroe, the 5th President of the United States. When the City of Monrovia was founded in 1822, it was isolated from the rest of the country. Even after Liberia’s independence in 1847, Monrovia was not opened to the rest of the country.

Monrovia, at the time was the face of Liberia with no adequate roads leading to the interior of the country. For example, economic, educational, and political activities were all centered on Monrovia. As well as Infrastructure development, import & export enhanced by the presence of the Freeport of Monrovia. Moreover, with the lack of adequate access to the interior of Liberia, educational advancements were hindered. We can now see why the illiteracy rate in Liberia has risen to 80 percent or more.  Tribal group started to move from the interior of Liberia to Monrovia looking for employment around 1926. Data– In 1943 when William V. S. Tubman became President of Liberia after 8 years in office, he granted women and indigenous the right to vote in 1951 for the first time in presidential election.

Many people will think about how to distinguish between two types of initial contacts: One requested by a parent order cheap cialis and the other by the staff. As for the direction of use, it can be simply applied on the genital organs to get the best cipla viagra results out of it. Being a prevalent sexual condition is not a big deal at viagra price http://appalachianmagazine.com/2017/10/24/virginians-can-expect-to-see-more-roundabouts-in-future/ all. But nobody hears about them presumably because they are too young for this cialis 100mg canada medicine. Although it took so many years after independence for economic, educational, and political activities to reach the heartland of Liberia, Monrovia like any other developing nation’s capital has always been the place of attraction and provision of opportunities for the rest of the country. By virtue of the fact that government plays a major role in opening economic and educational opportunities, Monrovia at this point in time embeds quality of hope to displaced and returning Liberians. There are positive aspects to the densely populated Monrovia, such as short-term and long-term economic benefits. A)The short-term economic benefit is a learning curve that will lead to innovation and self-reliance.

B) The long-term benefit of the dense population of Monrovia will create a drive to modernization of the country and the growth of new ideas for industrialization that will lead to competition with the rest of the developing countries in the sub-region. Let’s look at the nation of Japan for example; Japan is among the most densely populated countries in the world. Evidence of innovations and economic strength from Japan’s four major islands comprising of Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku with a population of 128 million can be seen throughout the world. The City of Monrovia with its 1,010,970 population (National Census, 2008) will benefit economic success from the huge population in time to come. I am very aware of the negative aspects of a densely populated city, such as high cost of living, higher unemployment, threat to disease and crime but I am equally aware of the economic and educational benefits such as industrialization, productivity and competitive advantage.

Despite the civil crisis, movement toward the cities started in the 1960s for most developing countries, and in the 1980s for China-The Mystery of Capital, 2000. According to Hernando De Soto (The Mystery of Capital, 2000), “Since Deng Xiaoping’s economic reforms began in 1979, 100 million Chinese have left their official homes in search of extralegal jobs.” If you look around, you are most likely to see a product made in China. Let me share a story written by Bruce Whatley about three little pigs that lived together in an old house along with seventy-three other little pigs. One day the three little pigs decided to leave home and to build their own houses. The first pig built his house out of straw, and the second little pig built his house out of sticks, and the third little pig built his house out of bricks.

What we can all learn from this story is a lesson of innovation and continuous improvement when we are at the point of transition by discovering our potentials that will enable us to make things better. Monrovia is at the point of economic development that will spread to the rest of the country because everyone is learning from the opportunity that Monrovia provides. © Newlinkafrica.com. To submit article for publication: Info@newlinkafrica.com Email or contact us at:info@newlinkafrica.com