Final contractor report on a project to assist Liberia's Ministry 
of Education in reforming itsprimary education system.  The report covers 
theproject from its 5/88 inception to its prematuretermination in 5/90.  
Two events caused the project to be prematurelyterminated. First, all 
USAID/L projects were goingto be phased out as of 2/91 because the 
Governmentof Liberia did not meet outstanding debt obligationsunder the 
Brooke Amendment.  Second, civil warfareforced the closure of Liberia's 
schools andevacuation of project staff in 5/90.  However,because the 
project had already been operating on aaccelerated implementation 
schedule, much of whatwas scheduled to be accomplished in 5 years 
wasaccomplished in 2.  The project strengthened management of the Bureau 
of Primary Education (BPE)through training of officers and the 
introduction ofseveral new administrative procedures.  Training wasalso 
provided to 2,010 teachers and principals inthe use of the new materials 
and methods and to 214supervisors (BPE supervisors, district 
educationofficers, Peace Corps volunteers, principals, andothers) in 
instructional supervision.  Actualsupervision of school sites was 
constrained,however, by a lack of transportation.  A pilot radio activity 
led to the production andbroadcast of 60 radio programs to provide 
additional instruction to  2nd and 5th grade teachers and toprincipals.  
The programs were aired during recesstime, and were found to have a 
positive effect onboth teaching and administrative performance.  Morethan 
99% of teachers and principals reported thatthey liked the radio programs 
and requested more.  Criterion referenced tests were completed in 
thesubjects of language, reading, social studies,mathematics, and science 
for each of the six primarygrades.  A random sample of schools 
participating inthe reform program was selected and a strategydeveloped 
for administering the test.  The closingof schools and the evacuation of 
staff prevented theadministration of the tests.  Participant trainingwas 
also short-circuited due to the unrest.