Of the 36 respondents, 34 individuals (21 survey; 13 interview; 94.4 percent of the total sample) indicated that sub standard salaries caused an increase in the proportion of unqualified and underqualified teachers in Liberia. Twenty four (24) individuals (15 survey; nine interview; 66.7 percent of the total sample) attributed the same outcome to poor conditions of service for teachers in Liberia.
Questionnaire item number nine sought data relative to the conditions of service of teachers in Liberia, and relative to incentives other than salary for teachers in Liberia. A total of 22 (61.1 percent) of the total sample responded to item number nine. Of these 22 respondents, 20 individuals (11 survey; nine interview; 55.6 percent of the total sample) thought that the conditions of service were clearly unsatisfactory.
All 36 of the individuals interviewed and surveyed responded to item number three. In responding to questionnaire item number three, the members of the research sample identified specific problems affecting pre service teacher education in Liberia. Twenty one (58.3 percent) members of the sample agreed with the findings of earlier studies that inadequate educational funding was a major contributing factor to the ineffectiveness and inefficiency of pre service teacher education in Liberia. Members of the research sample attributed enrollment declines in teacher education programs to inadequate funding. In turn, the members of the research sample attributed inadequate funding levels to skewed national goals.
Importantly, however, 15 (41.7 percent) of the sample members cited poorly qualified students engaged in pre service teacher education as a major reason for the ineffectiveness of pre service teacher education in the country along with funding. The contention of these members of the sample was that, regardless of funding levels, pre service teacher education in Liberia would remain ineffective as long as a ...