Liberia: 14th Graduation Ceremony of MVTC Disrupted Over Failure to Provide Graduation Package

MONROVIA – The 14th graduation ceremony of the Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC) was abruptly disrupted on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, after members of the graduating class staged a protest over what they described as poor planning and the administration’s failure to provide graduation packages to several students.  

---

By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway 

---

MVTC, operated by the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), is responsible for designing, implementing, and monitoring programs in technical and vocational education.

This year’s graduation was the first to be held under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s Unity Party-led administration.

The disruption occurred shortly after Mariana Davis, an alumna of the institution, delivered a motivational speech encouraging the graduates to uphold professionalism and strive for excellence in their chosen fields.

Immediately following her remarks, a group of aggrieved students stormed the podium, demanding the immediate distribution of graduation materials, which they claimed were paid for but not delivered.

Graduates expressed frustration with both the MVTC administration and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS), alleging that despite full payment, some students were left without their graduation gowns, certificates, and other required materials.

Over 1,200 students were expected to graduate in disciplines including Heavy Duty Mechanics, Carpentry, Automotive, LEC Technician Training, Plumbing, Building Trades, Architecture, Computer Science, and Light Duty Mechanics. However, the ceremony ended in a premature deadlock due to the unrest.

In response to the incident, the Ministry of Youth and Sports issued a press statement hours after the disruption, condemning the students’ actions and reaffirming its commitment to student welfare.

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports has received troubling reports from the Monrovia Vocational Training Center, and expresses disappointment following the disruption of the MVTC graduation ceremony earlier today by seven disenchanted students,” the statement read.

The Ministry acknowledged the achievement of all graduates after 18 months of training but described the protest as an act that undermined the celebration for the majority of students and their families.

MYS noted that under the previous administration, MVTC enrolled nearly 1,500 students, of which 1,194 were enrolled free of charge—well beyond the institution’s intended capacity of 500. Despite this, the Ministry claimed it worked diligently to ensure these students received quality training amid previous protest actions during the learning cycle.

“The Ministry is currently reviewing the circumstances surrounding the seven students who caused the disruption. However, the actions taken today were unacceptable and undermined a day of great pride for the over one thousand graduates who completed their program,” the statement added.

The Ministry also announced the immediate suspension of any further activities related to the completed training cycle and confirmed the commencement of enrollment procedures for the new academic period.

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports remains dedicated to empowering young people through quality education and training and will continue to uphold standards of discipline and respect in all its programs,” the statement concluded.

While the Ministry claimed only seven students were responsible for the disruption due to their late payment for graduation-related fees, eyewitness accounts and video footage from the event suggested a much larger group participated in the protest that ultimately brought the ceremony to a halt.