Paynesville, Liberia– The New Joy Teacher Training Institute (NJTTI), a pioneering educational institution founded by Precious Joy Teeweh, the 2022 inaugural recipient of Liberia’s Presidential National Best Teacher Award, has celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of trained educators. Fourteen teachers received their “C” Certificates in Early Childhood Education during a ceremony held at the Liberia Learning Center in Paynesville.
The event marked a historic milestone for the newly established institute, reaffirming Liberia’s commitment to strengthening foundational learning through quality teacher training.
Serving as keynote speaker was Fasam Howard Nyensuah, Assistant Minister for Early Childhood Education at the Ministry of Education. He praised the graduates for their dedication and described the ceremony as more than an academic milestone; it was a declaration of hope for Liberia’s youngest citizens.
“Today is not just another day on the academic calendar, it is a historic celebration,” Hon. Nyensuah said. “This graduation is not about the certificate alone, but about the transformation in the lives of these teachers and the children whose futures they will help shape.”
He emphasized the importance of early childhood education as the cornerstone of academic, emotional, social, and spiritual development. “You are not merely teachers of letters and numbers, you are caretakers of Liberia’s future,” he stated. “This first graduating class represents the nation’s renewed promise to prioritize early childhood education as central to national development.”
Minister Nyensuah commended the graduates for their perseverance, noting that many had left behind families, communities, and jobs in pursuit of this transformative training.
The ceremony was held under the theme: “Laying Strong Foundations, Empowering Educators, and Securing the Future.”
Delivering the valedictory address, Edwina D. Seboe described the graduation as a moment of celebration, reflection, and a new beginning.
“At NJTTI, we spent months immersed in learning, growing, and preparing for the incredible journey ahead,” she said. “Together, we embraced challenges, discovered our strengths, and developed the skills that will guide us in the classroom and beyond.”
Seboe paid tribute to the institute’s trainers and staff for their unwavering dedication, and thanked families and loved ones for their support.
“To my fellow graduates: this is our moment. We step forward not just as teachers, but as champions of learning, ready to nurture the next generation with curiosity, care, and hope,” she said. “The future is bright and today marks the beginning of something truly remarkable. Congratulations, Class of 2024/2025, the world is waiting for us.”
In her remarks, NJTTI’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Precious Joy Teeweh, described the graduation as more than a celebration, it was a defining moment for educational equity in Liberia.
“We are gathered not just to honor our graduates, but to recognize the divine vision that brought us here,” she said. “To God be the glory, for He is the Chief Architect of this mission. He has sustained our dreams and made this journey possible.”
Teeweh recounted her own journey, which began with enrollment in the EPACAP Early Childhood Teacher Program, supported by the World Bank, the Ministry of Education, and the Children’s Assistance Program (CAP). That program, she said, transformed her life, leading to her national award and a vision to empower more women through education.
“Too many young women stand on the fringes of opportunity. Waiting is no longer an option,” she said passionately. “Education must not be a privilege; it must be a right.”
In that spirit, she announced the launch of a new initiative: the Empowering Women through Education Project (EWTEP). The program aims to train at least 100 women in early childhood education and equip them with the tools, resources, and confidence to lead with excellence.
“Training is only the beginning,” Teeweh noted. “Through EWTEP, we will produce scratch cards, workbooks, teachers’ guides, and phonics materials to support our educators and ensure they can make lasting impacts in their communities.”
