A Brief History
Today, boys and girls of Barsee-Giah Town and surrounding villages attend school in a new building with new desks and chairs, chalkboards, inside lavatory, and enclosed classrooms. However, old problems remain—inadequate instructional resources, lack of reading materials, and limited teacher training. Gbawin Literacy Project is working to improve the learning experience for students and staff of the small village school.
Located in one of the remotest villages in Liberia, Barsee Giah Town Public School provides primary education for 317 children. A principal, who also teaches, runs the school with three teachers. Of the small staff, only the principal holds a teaching certificate from a local teacher training program. Although it is an elementary school, the average age in third grade is between 13 and 15.
Paramount Chief Barsee-Giah established the school in the mid-1940s. Having no formal education, Chief Barsee-Giah knew that education was the only way to improve the life chances of the village children. So when Liberia began its compulsory elementary education initiative, the chief and his community built the first village school. The school began with one room and one teacher.
Until three years ago, the school was housed in a rundown building formerly owned by The Voice of Africa (VOA) Christian Mission which was closed in 1990. In 2015, a co-sponsorship of local and international organizations built the new school.
Although students have a new building, they still cannot afford basic supplies such as pens, pencils, and paper for daily learning activities. Gbawin Literary Project is committed to providing these basic supplies so that all children can go to school prepared to learn.
Located in one of the remotest villages in Liberia, Barsee Giah Town Public School provides primary education for 317 children. A principal, who also teaches, runs the school with three teachers. Of the small staff, only the principal holds a teaching certificate from a local teacher training program. Although it is an elementary school, the average age in third grade is between 13 and 15.
Paramount Chief Barsee-Giah established the school in the mid-1940s. Having no formal education, Chief Barsee-Giah knew that education was the only way to improve the life chances of the village children. So when Liberia began its compulsory elementary education initiative, the chief and his community built the first village school. The school began with one room and one teacher.
Until three years ago, the school was housed in a rundown building formerly owned by The Voice of Africa (VOA) Christian Mission which was closed in 1990. In 2015, a co-sponsorship of local and international organizations built the new school.
Although students have a new building, they still cannot afford basic supplies such as pens, pencils, and paper for daily learning activities. Gbawin Literary Project is committed to providing these basic supplies so that all children can go to school prepared to learn.