IPNEWS-MONROVIA: The government of Liberia through the Ministries of Youth and Sports and Education with funding from the European Union, Government of Sweden, and the French Development Agency and its implementing partners UNIDO, IECD, and UNESCO today concluded the 2-day National Stakeholders Consultative Workshop for a unified Liberian TVET system.

The 2-day intensive consultative workshop which started yesterday February 25, 2021 at the Monrovia Vocational Training Center MVTC with the THEME “Towards a unified TVET Governance, Regulatory and Training service delivery system for Liberia”. It objective is to consider and adopt the TVET Curriculum and Qualification Descriptor Development Cycle as a common tool and national standard for Liberia, and initiation of Occupational and Career Consultative Groups which together constitute the backbone tool of any labor market responsive TVET system.

Scott Lowe, CEO Arcelor Mittal Liberia who served as Keynote Speaker of the Workshop stressed on highlights and gains of Arcelor Mittal’s contribution towards the TVET sector of Liberia. “We did not only commit millions of dollars to the rehabilitation and acquisition of training materials and equipment, we recruited some of the very best on the continent to facilitate the delivery of TVET. We knew then, like we believe now, that to run an effective mining operation, the development and supply of qualified local skills serve as the best route to attain sustainability and profitability in the sector.”

In furtherance, Mr. Lowe said for Liberia to achieve a middle-income status as conceived in all its development plans, its young generation will have to acquire the marketable skills to compete for the jobs that are and coming online in the sector. Some of the career options we will be seeking include but not limited to drillers, steel fabricators plant managers, geo-technical engineers, geologists, civil/earthwork engineers, operations and maintenance technicians, concentrator plant operators, metallurgy technicians, process controllers and engineers. TVET institutions should now be encouraged to look beyond the traditional trainings offered and focus on cutting edge training needed by the private sector. we are excited to be working in a country like Liberia that has a lot of untapped gems. 79% of the population is 35Yrs or below. It is a very young population and with a lot of growth potential.”

In his presentation, Mr. Lowe encouraged discussions of policies that could help create a sturdy, tailored, and effective national framework to suit industries in Liberia, encouraging these discussions bringing the policy side to the table to mandate the tailoring of the country’s national frameworks to suit the needs of the industries. There must be a thoughtful approach if we are to position TVET in the provision of sustainable and profitable mining and mineral processing.

In conclusion, Mr. Lowe reassured and committed Arcelor Mittal’s contribution to the TVET sector of Liberia, “As an industry-leader, ArcelorMittal Liberia is aware of the strategic role of TVET in sustainable, profitable mining and mineral processing. We are committed in will and resources to a collective approach and strong partnerships that seek to produce the excellence of TVET skills that will contribute meaningfully to the growth of the private sector and national development as a whole.”

“We believe in the transformational impact the acquisition of the right TVET skills can have on Liberia’s youth population, and as a company, we will continue to remain supportive of these efforts. “

Also speaking during the program, Minister D. Zeogar Wilson of the Ministry of Youth and Sports thanked UNESCO, EU, the Swedish, the French and implementing organizations like UNIDO, IECD and GIZ for their continuous support in strengthening the TVET sector and making it a direct attractive call and not a second thought option when it comes to one acquiring education. With your support, we want to reassure you of Government commitment to said partnership and will do everything possible within the confines of our authority to project ownership to the point of actualizing a vibrant TVET sector.

He further lamented, today marks a new beginning in setting the course or direction for rebranding the TVET sector from the standpoint of governance, thereby effectuating a harmonized approach to a unified TVET system. For too long the issue of fragmentation has existed in this sector thereby threatening its smooth operation. There is no better time and the opportunity provided us to holistically have a sincere engagement and make the necessary difference than now.

Minister Wilson added, a regulatory body of the TVET sector will help ensure high-quality training, better curriculum, and the other many challenges the sector is faced with “We must work together to ensure that the issues of LITCOM legislation, Quality Assurance, Curriculum Development, TVET Financing, Synchronized Testing and Evaluation, and General Certification etcetera can be achieved in this era of well-meaning support and political will.

He also said, today’s gathering of Stakeholders in the sector to look at Strategic Role of TVET in a Sustainable, Profitable Mining and Mineral Processing Operations, Sector Skills Demand and Supply Overview, Unifying Liberia’s TVET System through TVET Policy Development or Review, TVET Curriculum and Qualification Descriptor Development Sector, Occupational and Career Development etcetera might not be the solution to solving all of the problems that the sector is faced with but it is the surest manifestation that people desirous of making a positive impact are on the right trajectory.

Concluding, Minister Wilson again extended thanks to partners and all stakeholders for their continuous support towards the TVET Sector and recommit government’s efforts in ensuring young Liberians are fully equipped with the skills to enhancing their productive capacity and making them good citizens.

Also speaking at the official opening ceremony, Counsellor and Head of Governance of the European Union delegation Mr. Jyrki Torni highlighted the contribution of the European Union and other partners to the TVET Sector and reaffirmed the European Union support to the government’s pro-poor agenda for prosperity and development.

He urged the government of Liberia to put more efforts in improving the business and investment climate and that the corruption perception is one of the key factors keeping major investments away from the country.