ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION STRATEGIES IN THE REINTEGRATION OF LIBERIAN FORMER CHILD SOLDIERS

This thesis examines the challenges surrounding the reintegration of former child soldiers in post-conflict Liberia and recommends alternative education strategies for their reintegration. Formal schooling has not met the needs of many Liberian former child soldiers, and consequently alternative education programs and strategies are an essential approach towards reintegration. I analyze educational theory, policy, and case studies in post-conflict countries to recommend the most effective alternative education strategies for reintegrating Liberian former child soldiers and ensuring their further intellectual, social, and economic development. I argue that programs combining community and peer support with professional guidance and apprenticeships have been the most effective in reaching this population. This research will serve as a basis for implementing adult education programs at The Pa’s Hat Academy, a school intended to serve former child soldiers and subsequent generations of males in the West Point area in Monrovia, Liberia.