By: Henry N. Kolenky
MONROVIA: School administrators and students in Maryland County paraded the principal streets of Harper City in celebration of dedication of a modern technical and vocational training TVET center. The ceremony which took place on Friday, March 15, 2024 brought together several institutions including Sarah Elizabeth Gibson Elementary, Harper Demonstration Elementary, Junior and Senior High, and Yoàkpê Foundation High School.
Other schools that participated in the inauguration of the new TVET Centre were John Hillary High School, E. Othello Gongar, Cape Palmas High School, among others.
According to the implementing partners of the TVET project, the European has invested 25, 250.00 EURO in the project while the Swedish Government contributed 55, 000,000 SEK to it.
The construction of the project took place in the last 72 months from September 1, 2018 to 2024. The project has brought joy to many citizens of Maryland County, particularly High School dropped-outs including people who are not interested in tertiary education.
Addressing the gathering which took place in the Lake Shepherd Community on the Old Pakistani Military Base in Harper, Cape Palmas High School Principal Annie Sleweon disclosed that the vocational school is an annex of Cape Palmas High School under the direct supervision of her institution.
Madam Sleweon indicated that the doors are open to all of the schools across Maryland County who are desirous of vocational and technical education for their students, saying further that residents of various communities in the county who are not in school but have the desire of learning trade are also free to attend to the training to be provided in the newly inaugurated TVET Center of the Cape Palmas High School.
She disclosed training courses in Agriculture that Auto Mechanics, Computer Science, Electricity, Carpentry, Plumbing, Masonry and many other disciplines amongst others will be administered by the Center.
The entrance registration for the trade school was scheduled to start March 18, but clarified, however, that Cape Palmas High School students are exempted from the entrance. “This TVET Center is not a ‘come let go graduate’ place,” she warned, stressing that anyone having in mind that the Vocational and Technical Training Center is another place for jokes will be mistaken.
The CPHS principal lauded the school’s newly annexed facility and members of the general public who allowed their kids and students to form part of the dedication ceremony.
She said the project aims to support technical and vocational education and training in Liberia and is being funded by the European Union and the Government of Sweden in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
She said the project is being implemented by the United Nations Industrial Organization (UNIDO), stating that the ‘Youth Rising’ is in alignment with Liberia’s National TVET policy.
The project contributes to youth employment by improving access to quality technical and vocational education and training for young men and women by promoting entrepreneurship and connecting education with the private sector.
The project objectives maintained that the Government of Liberia recognizes that the transition towards inclusive growth will not happen unless human capacities are enhanced, and the quality of education and vocational training are improved to match the demands of the labor market.
Accordingly, the objectives of the Government of Liberia have made progressive policy commitments to prioritize youth employment and to strengthen labor market skills.
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