By: Julius Konton
Liberia’s Director-General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA), Dr. Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., has challenged a new generation of teachers to embrace their profession as a national calling, urging them to become architects of Liberia’s future by shaping the minds, values, and leadership of the country’s next generation.
Delivering the keynote commencement address during the graduation ceremony of the Zorzor Rural Teacher Training Institute (ZRTTI) on Saturday, Dr. Joekai described teachers as the foundation upon which sustainable national development is built, emphasizing that true nation-building begins in the classroom.
“Teachers shape minds before they shape institutions.
They inspire dreams before they become realities, and they cultivate character long before leadership emerges,” Dr. Joekai told the graduating class.
The ceremony celebrated the graduation of 52 newly trained professional teachers, all members of Cohort 15, who successfully earned ‘C’ Certificates, qualifying them to serve in Liberia’s primary education system.
Dr. Joekai underscored that the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), the Boakai Administration’s national development blueprint places education at the center of Liberia’s transformation agenda.
He noted that quality education remains one of the world’s most effective instruments for reducing poverty, creating employment opportunities, promoting social mobility, strengthening democratic governance, and stimulating long-term economic growth.
According to international development estimates, countries that significantly improve teacher quality and learning outcomes experience faster economic growth, while every additional year of schooling can substantially increase lifetime earnings and national productivity.
“The vision of the ARREST Agenda cannot be realized without institutions such as the Zorzor Rural Teacher Training Institute and without dedicated teachers like the graduates we celebrate today,” Dr. Joekai emphasized.
Liberia continues to prioritize education sector reforms as part of broader efforts to improve learning outcomes, expand access to qualified teachers, and strengthen public institutions following years of post-conflict reconstruction.
The CSA Director-General praised the Ministry of Education and the leadership of Liberia’s Rural Teacher Training Institutes (RTTIs) for advancing teacher education reforms aimed at improving instructional quality across the country.
He described government investment in RTTIs as a strategic intervention designed to:
Improve teacher competency and instructional quality;
Strengthen professional standards across the education sector;
Expand pathways to higher education for teachers;
Standardize teacher preparation nationwide; and
Address shortages of qualified educators in rural communities.
Established to improve access to trained teachers outside Liberia’s urban centers, the Zorzor Rural Teacher Training Institute serves three counties; Lofa, Bong, and Nimba producing hundreds of classroom teachers over the years for public schools across northern Liberia.
Historically, Nimba County has produced the largest number of graduates from the institution.
However, Cohort 15 marked a significant shift, with Lofa County leading the graduating class with 27 graduates, followed by Nimba County with 13, while Bong County produced 12 graduates.
Dr. Joekai urged the graduates to enter the teaching profession with professionalism, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to continuous learning.
He reminded them that effective teaching extends beyond textbooks and lesson plans, stressing that educators also serve as role models whose conduct shapes future generations.
“Your character will teach as much as your lessons. Embrace service.
Teaching is fundamentally about transforming lives and creating opportunities for others. Wherever you serve, teach with passion, patience, compassion, professionalism, and purpose.
Teach with the understanding that every child deserves an opportunity to succeed,” he said.
In a significant assurance to the graduates, Dr. Joekai reaffirmed the Civil Service Agency’s commitment to working closely with the Ministry of Education to facilitate the recruitment and placement of qualified teachers onto the Government of Liberia’s payroll.
The commitment aligns with ongoing civil service reforms aimed at strengthening the public education workforce, improving teacher deployment, and ensuring that trained educators are effectively integrated into Liberia’s school system.
The Civil Service Agency has, in recent years, expanded efforts to modernize public sector employment systems, improve workforce planning, and support the government’s broader public service reform agenda.
The graduation ceremony highlighted Liberia’s continuing investment in developing a skilled teaching workforce as the country seeks to improve educational outcomes and accelerate socio-economic development.
With demand for qualified teachers remaining critical particularly in rural communities, the graduation of the 52 new educators represents another important contribution toward strengthening Liberia’s education sector and advancing the country’s long-term development objectives.
For the graduates of Cohort 15, Dr. Joekai concluded, the journey ahead is about more than teaching lessons, it is about inspiring hope, nurturing leadership, and building a stronger, more prosperous Liberia one classroom at a time.
