Africa-Press – Liberia. The Maryland Vocational Training Institute (MVTI) has officially launched a two-week Training of Trainers (ToT) program for ten instructors, marking a major milestone in the institution’s history and its commitment to youth empowerment in Maryland County.
The program was formally launched on Monday, January 5, 2026, at the Maryland County Administration Building in Harper, bringing together government officials, education stakeholders, and technical experts.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, MVTI Director Mr. Roland Bailea described the training as a critical transition phase for the institution as it moves toward full operationalization.
“Today marks another milestone in the history of MVTI. We are transitioning from planning to action. That is why we have gathered you here to work together as one family to move the youth of this county forward,” Bailea said.
He emphasized that the initiative aligns with the government’s development agenda, particularly its focus on youth empowerment.
“You are the drivers of this process. The experts are here to impart the required knowledge so that when you enter the classroom, you will know exactly what to do,” he added.
Providing an overview of the training, the Deputy Director for Training and Manpower, Mr. Gregory M. Mieh, described the exercise as a crucial phase in the institution’s development.
“Today, we begin the training of trainers, those who will carry the responsibility of transforming our young people into employable citizens and entrepreneurs,” Mieh said.
He explained that MVTI is a government-owned institution established by an Act of the National Legislature in 2021, with its operational base in Pleebo, the economic hub of Maryland County.
According to Mieh, MVTI’s programs are designed to equip Liberian youth with practical skills across several sectors, including general construction (masonry, carpentry, plumbing), agriculture (crop production, fisheries, and animal husbandry), general mechanics (automobile mechanics and metal fabrication), electricity (residential, solar, and industrial), home economics (tailoring and fashion design, catering, bakery, beverages, and cosmetology), air-conditioning and refrigeration, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
However, he noted that for the initial phase, the institution has strategically selected five programs to commence operations. These include tailoring and fashion design, catering, electricity, air-conditioning and refrigeration, and computer studies (ICT). Two instructors have been recruited for each program, making up the ten participants currently undergoing training.
Also speaking at the program, Professor Alexander S. Gandyu, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at William V.S. Tubman University, described the occasion as historic.
“Today is not just another event on the calendar; it is the laying of a foundation. You are pioneers, builders, and shapers of futures,” Professor Gandyu told the trainees.
He stressed that vocational instructors carry responsibilities beyond lesson plans.
“You are entrusted with transforming potential into competence, skills into livelihoods, and training into dignity,” he said, drawing parallels with the early development of the Liberia Opportunities Industrialization Center (LOIC) in Buchanan during the 1990s.
Making remarks on behalf of the Maryland County education sector, Ms. Annie T. Sleweon, Acting Chief Executive Officer and Principal of Cape Palmas High School, said teaching in Liberia requires passion, patience, and commitment.
“There is no money in teaching it is passion that drives you. If we want to change our education system, we must give vocational education the attention it deserves, especially in the southeast,” she said.
She urged the instructors to see themselves not only as classroom teachers, but also as parents, psychosocial counselors, and role models for students.
Meanwhile, Mr. Zizi Cyrus, Director at the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Department of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and a facilitator of the training, said MVTI plays a critical role in addressing Liberia’s youth employment challenges.
“Liberia has a youthful population, which presents both a challenge and an opportunity. When young people are properly trained, certified, and supported, they become drivers of growth, innovation, and creativity,” Cyrus said.
He added that MVTI’s programs align with the national TVET policy and the TVET Qualification Framework.
Officially launching the training, Maryland County Superintendent Mr. Henry B. Cole Jr. urged young people to take advantage of the opportunities provided by MVTI.
“Maryland County was once the cradle of tertiary education in the 1940s and 1950s. Today, we are again supporting an institution that will mold the minds of our young people,” Cole said.
He noted that young people constitute nearly 60 percent of Liberia’s population, making investment in vocational and career education essential for national development.
“Vocational education is career education, and it is key to preparing our youth for future challenges,” the superintendent concluded.
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