The Government of Liberia (GoL) through the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) in collaboration its partners, specifically the United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has ended a two-day stakeholders’ meeting.
The meeting, held in Monrovia, aimed at reviewing the National TVET Policy so as to arrive at the best policy that would be used by the country.
Speaking at the opening of the two-day conference, Youth and Sports Minister, Mr. Dester Zeogar Wilson National urged the participants to critically and realistically review the policy so as to arrive at a more practical solution that would be applicable for the nation and its people.
Minister Wilson, who is also the head of the Inter-Ministerial Task Force (IMTF), said the practical and realistic approach is the best way forward.
The MYS boss then lauded UNESCO for its continuous support to the TVET sector and other educational programs in Liberia.
“I am grateful and want to thank UNESCO for its continuous support the TEVT sector and our numerous programs. As we are gathered here today, I want to urge you to be more realistic and practical about the items that were developed sometimes ago so as to see whether some of them are applicable or not. For the Inter-Ministerial Task Force stand point, we believe in the practical and realistic approach to these issues,” he added.
Stakeholders at the forum recommended the need for standard assessment methodology as is required in TVET delivery as well as staff development plan.
They also recommended that entrepreneurship be a stand-alone taught subject in TVET delivery because attitude is significant in skills development.
“Business skills should be included in TVET curricula as a cross cutting course because budgetary allocation and allotment to TVET institutions are not sufficient. Based on this, the release of funds for the smooth operation of TVET institutions is important. Female participation is not cheered in TVET, but the worst is a person with disabilities which is so repugnant,” the participants asserted.
During the review, TVET stakeholders observed that there is a lack of political will to advance the TVET policy.
They pointed out that funding mechanism is very essential to roll out TVET framework and stressed the need informal sector is highly considered in the policy.
One of the participants pointed out that the absence of policy makers (Ministers, deputies, law makers) at the stakeholder’s forum on TVET was a bad signal towards the establishment of LiTCOM.
The stakeholders during the conference also crafted a resolution be submitted to President George Manneh Weah.
As part of the resolution, the stakeholders agreed for the setting up an ad-hoc committee in the absence of LiTCOM to oversee TVET activities, and to drive the process towards the establishment of LiTCOM
It was recommended that the IMTF submit the draft national TVET policy to the legislature to begin the process of discussion on the establishment of LiTCOM.
“For effective delivery, TVET institutions should be given autonomy. Autonomy is key – which will allow TVET institutions to interact with the private sector to generate funding. Autonomy is not unique to finance but rather the legal framework, which gives TVET institutions the leverage to generate funding. BWI experience – BWI in the only public TVET institution that operates as a semi-autonomy based on its legal chapter,” the resolution read.
“Training institutions should work to ensure quality assurance in the absent of LiTCOM,” the participants agreed.
phe Participants also resolved to include the regulatory functions of various ministries and agencies currently administering TVET activities in the legislation that will be assumed by LiTCOM
It was recommended that digital technology be included in the TVET policy and preparedness for emergency situation taking COVID 19 as an example.
The stakeholders then agreed that TVET institutions should establish contact with the Liberia Chamber of Commerce to enhance collaboration with industries.
Also, Dr. Daniel Baffour Awuah, UNESCO Consultant lauded the participants for their inputs over the course of the conference.
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