FAWE-Liberia Frowns On Biases Against Girls In TVET Sector

The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE-Liberia) boss Madam Winifred W. Deline says existing cultural practices and gender biases are making it more difficult for girls and young women in post war Liberia to benefit from available technical Vocational Education (TVET).

Speaking at a recent public engagement via radio institutions the FAWE-Liberia Educationalist further stated that women and young girls are hardly considered for job in the TVET sector, adding that this is further deepening the problems of gender biases in the non-traditional sector.

“The TVET sector should be an alternative avenue for girls and young women who could not make it through the formal education system just as it is for the male and also people that are going the formal school system for added advantage. Unfortunately, we have observed that this is not the case especially when you look at the nontraditional or male dominated fields such as electronics, engineering, mechanics, and you can name them,” she said.

“Now, if we look at the teaching staff in most TVET institutions, they are dominated by males; you hardly find a female teaching staff. There is no gender equality in TVET. We have to stop this and this sector be inclusive for vulnerable girls and young women too in terms of staffing and enrolment across the country,” she stated.

Madam Deline said as girls and young women struggle to rebuild their lives taking advantage of training opportunities in the TVET sector, their male counterparts should encourage and motivate them to become productive in their communities.

She stressed the need for the inclusion of vulnerable girls and young women in the campaign for the establishment of what will be the Liberia Technical Vocational Education Commission (LIBCOM).

Working with TVET institutions, TVET Teachers Association, FAWE-Liberia re-awakened the campaign calling on the Liberia Legislature to pass an Act that will establish the LIBCOM Commission. The Act which has been lingering at the Legislature since 2015 was by the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Education. Amongst other things, it talks about laying down a framework for Liberian National qualification and agency that will be conducting national licensing test for technicians.

FAWE is a pan-African Non-Government Organization founded in 1992 by five women Ministers of Education to promote girls’ and women’s education in sub-Saharan Africa in line with Education for All. The organization’s members include female ministers of education, university vice-chancellors, education policy-makers, researchers, gender specialists and human rights activists.  

 The Liberian chapter is implementing series of programs and advocacy activities including the Girls Advocacy Alliance (GAA) project to empower girls and young women to overcome gender barriers.  The Campaign to establish LIBCOM is one of organization current focus to provide opportunity for vulnerable girls and young women in Liberia.