Montserrado County — Construction works for the US$10 million TVET Center, the Gateway Vocational Training Center (GVTC) in Bentol will begin in March.
Ahead of that, the German Government through GIZ and the European Union have begun setting up the administrative arm of the school.
The GIZ, the EU and the Private Sector Association of Liberia Tuesday formally inducted members of the Board of Directors of the GVTC to manage the affairs of the Center as well as recruit staff.
Speaking during the induction of the Board on Tuesday, 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.
Also speaking, EU Ambassador and Head of the EU delegation to Liberia, Ambassador Laurent Delahousse said he believes the Private sector and the Market can bring sustainability to the development efforts that Liberian and partners are engaged into. 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 then pledged the EU support to the Technical Vocational Education Training initiatives aimed at improving the livelihoods of Liberian youths.
Meanwhile, those inducted were Madam Jocelia Taplah, Mr. Burteh Freeman and Mr. Alexander Massey. Speaking on behalf of her colleagues, Madam 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. “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 men-power development.
They pledged the Liberian Government’s commitment to providing the needed support to the Center; urging the board members to execute their duties dutifully.