Former Vice President Joseph Boakai says the George Weah-led government should be blamed for what he calls poor regulation of the Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) programs in Liberia.
Serving as keynote speaker for program marking the second cycle graduation of the District 7 Skills Training Center (DSSTC), the Unity Party’s standard bearer said, government is blamable in three areas; the poor regulation of TVET institutions, the inadequate financing of TVET education, and the lack of incentives for the involvement of the private sector.
Boakai added that while the country has a TVET policy, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports is supposedly in charge, yet the government has not been able to regulate the proliferation of TVET programs within other government agencies, NGOs, and for-profit institutions.
He maintained that the funding of TVET programs is also inadequate, especially with the overdependence of waiting for donors’ funds to undertake programs.
The former Vice President under Ellen government indicated that there is also disconnect between government and enterprises in the private sector when it comes to developing TVET programs, especially to create jobs to help alleviate our chronic unemployment situation; for instance, in the latter case, the government’s inability to convince and engage employers and enterprises (private sector), to be significant players in TVET development.
“Young people are big consumers economically, and they help build the economy when they are a major part of production and consumption. Our economies do not expand nor grow because of the low economic power of our youths. We cannot build a strong economy if our youths remain underprepared to earn a decent livelihood,” Boakai averred.
“I need not tell you about the dreadful situation of unemployment among the young people in our country, but the situation, I believe, needs to be highlighted or be emphasized as we are experiencing presently poor economic growth,” he stressed.
“In my estimation, TVET Education should be considered as a ‘national priority.’ Our nation needs technically and vocationally competent workers for its economic growth, and our young people should be targeted to acquire the necessary technical skills that will position them to become active participants in our national development efforts,” he said.
“It is with this belief that over the years, I have supported the training of young people in areas of TVET skills so that they may be prepared to focus on practical applications they can use to develop a better Liberia for their improved livelihoods; as I speak to this graduating class, I want you to use the various skills you have acquired to be of service to your country. Your technical and vocational education and training have prepared you to meet the needs of your community, employers, and our general citizenry,” Boakai told graduates.
