Kakata – Eight persons have completed a 4-month training program organized by German Cooperation and the Swedish Embassy at the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) in Kakata, Margibi County.
The training of trainers for road construction and maintenance were handed certificates to trainer candidates.
The training is meant to provide Liberia with qualified technical personnel in road maintenance, the project supported the Government of Liberia to develop the curriculum, to identify the training institute to cooperate with, and to train teachers.
September 2017 the project worked on a curriculum for competency-based training for road maintenance technicians, together with governmental institutions (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Youth and Sports), as well as industry (Association of Liberian Construction Contractors (ALCC), Engineering Society of Liberia (ESOL), Liberian Institute of Architects (LIA).
During the start of the project, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Booker Washington Institute in Kakata and GIZ was signed in July 2018.
The next training is expected to begin on September 2019.
There were nine modules used which includes Implementation of Safety, Health, Environment and Quality Requirements on a Road Construction Site; Apply and maintain Hand and Power Tools; Operate and Maintain Small Plant and Equipment; : Execute Fundamentals for Roadworks and Maintenance; Construct Gravel Roads; Erect Road Furniture, Signage and Markings; Construct Concrete Road Elements according to Drawings and Specification;: Maintain and Protect Roads; Work Readiness for Road Construction.
The support of the German Cooperation to the BWI included the renovation of the training premises, namely: two classrooms, one practical room, storage room, administrative office, exchange rooms, and restrooms. Besides, as the Institute that is located in Kakata, an approximately one-hour drive away from the capital Monrovia, two houses to lodge teachers have been renovated.
The project “Capacity Development in the Transport Sector” is being implemented by GIZ on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ) and co-funded by the EU. In this context, the Project supported the Liberian Government in the development of the Road Fund Act and its operationalization, in implementation of data-based, transparent and sustainable processes for prioritizing activities in road maintenance, in providing road safety management, awareness, and enforcement.
Wanda Moeninnig, Road Maintenance TVET program chair said Liberians should prioritize skills training despite pursuing academic education.
Ms. Moenning further stated that there is a need for more professional teachers in TVET programs.
There were 12 trainees but only eight graduated including a female.
Moses Kolleh, one of the graduates appreciated GIZ for the program and urged the Liberian Government to strengthen educational programs to enable an improved society.