MONROVIA, LIBERIA-Construction works for the Ten-million United States Dollar TVET Center, the Gateway Vocational Training Center (GVTC), in Bentol, will begin in March this year.
Ahead of that, the German Government, through GIZ and the European Union, have begun setting up the administrative arm of the school.
The GIZ, EU and the Private Sector Association of Liberia formally inducted members of the Board of Directors of the GVTC on Tuesday, February 8,2 022, to manage the affairs of the Center and recruit staffs.
Speaking at the induction of the Board, the Acting Director of the Capacity Development in the Transport Sector, Rigobert Kilu said while they await start of construction works, it was important for a board to begin putting together policy and other framework documents.
When erected, the GVTC will be placed under the leadership of the Private Sector Associations of Liberia, which include the Association of Liberian Construction Contractors (ALCC), Engineering Society of Liberia (ESOL), and the Liberian Institute of Architects (LIA), with a steering committee headed by Government’s TVET Sector Agencies and other international partners.
EU Ambassador and Head of the EU delegation to Liberia, Ambassador Laurent Delahousse says he believes the Private sector and the Market can bring sustainability to the development efforts that Liberian and partners are engaged into.
Speaking Tuesday at the Reception for the Official Induction of Members of the Board of Directors of the Gateway Vocational Training Center, Ambassador Delahouse said the system cannot be sustainable when all the financing are coming from outside.
He said with so many constraints on the government budget it is important for the Private Sector to generate funding from within the country.
The EU Ambassador said efforts by the Private Sector in mobilizing to finance a TVET center is important for Liberia.
He said:” The EU will remain supportive to the Technical Vocational Education Training initiatives aimed at improving the livelihoods of Liberian youths.”
Madam Jocelia Taplah, Mr. Burteh Freeman and Mr. Alexander Massey are the three members inducted into the GVTC Board of Directors.
Responding on behave of her colleagues; Madam Jocelia Taplah hailed the efforts of the German Government through GIZ and the EU for their efforts in ensuring a full restoration of Liberia.
Madam Taplah said:” The Board will not shame the confidence reposed in them by the GIZ, the EU, and other partners.”
Madam Taplah said: “I see it as a privilege and I’m delighted to be a part of history”. She added that as a Nation, it is important to identify the needs of its people and ensure those needs are met.
Also making remarks were Acting Public Works Minister Ruth Coker Collins and Assistant Minister for TVET at the Youth and Sports Ministry. Both Government officials praised the EU and the German Government for the support to Liberia’s man-power development.
They said government will work in providing the needed support to the Center, urging the board members to execute their duties dutifully.
By:Kolubah Zayzay
