Bridge Liberia distributes books and learning materials at supported schools

As part of Bridge Liberia’s commitment to supporting the country’s education sector  through the schools it supports, the social enterprise has begun the bi-annual distribution of learning materials to schools under the management of the organization.

Every semester, textbooks, cleaning supplies, and all stationery materials are distributed to over 300 schools across all fifteen counties where Bridge Liberia has operations.

This year, distribution begins at the J.W. Pearson Elementary School in Central Monrovia. 

Janet Massaquoi, Principal of the J.W. Pearson Elementary School is always excited about the distribution of learning materials. According to her, this is because the process enables all the students to have access to the learning materials of the content presented by the teacher in the classroom.

Every school year, we have new students joining us, therefore there is always a gap in the number of books when these students come on board, so  the new distribution ensures all the students have their own learning materials to keep up to speed with the teacher. 

The model of teaching in Bridge Liberia supported schools, calling for each student to have his or her own text, practice, and homework book during classroom sections. This way it is easier to follow through lesson presentations and students can independently practice what has been taught.

The textbooks and other learning materials provided by Bridge Liberia to its supported schools have not only reduced the burden of lack of necessary items  for the smooth running of these schools, it also contributed significantly to improvement in reading with data available to prove.

The first data recorded showed that in Bridge Liberia’s first year of operation, students at Bridge Liberia supported schools could read 7 more words per minute and answer 6% more questions correctly about the story they just read, Learning in Liberia Report.

Further, 17% of Bridge supported public schools’ second graders met reading fluency benchmarks for the first time, compared to only 4% of second graders at traditional public schools. At the end of the  first year, a randomized control trial by the Center for Global Development found Bridge supported students had reading gains equivalent to a whole additional year of schooling, when compared to other government schools.