Africa-Press – Liberia. Youth and Sports Minister Cornelia Kruah has underscored the need for stronger collaboration to enhance vocational education in Liberia.
Speaking during her first assessment visit to the Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC), Minister Kruah emphasized the importance of advancing youth development through technical and vocational education as a pathway to Liberia’s growth and national development.
During the visit, Minister Kruah pledged to initiate significant reforms at MVTC, including expanding and restructuring the facility and reducing tuition costs. She noted that these measures aim to increase enrollment in technical education and strengthen capacity-building for youth empowerment.
She further explained that reducing tuition fees at MVTC would significantly boost enrollment, help address the growing demand for technical skills in the job market, and provide viable alternatives to traditional academic education.
Minister Kruah identified affordability and the provision of quality training in public institutions as key drivers for increasing youth participation in Liberia’s technical advancement agenda.
During the engagement, Minister Kruah and the MVTC administration discussed several critical challenges affecting the institution. These included the availability of training materials, infrastructure development, institutional sustainability, teacher welfare, and the need for stronger collaboration with other government institutions.
For his part, the Director of MVTC, Wilfred Payne, described the minister’s visit as a revival of hope for vocational education in Liberia and a significant boost for youth development.
According to Director Payne, it has been more than a decade since a sitting youth and sports minister last visited the campus to assess its conditions and address developmental challenges.
“This is the first time in more than ten years that a youth and sports minister has visited the institution to understand our realities and discuss the way forward,” Director Payne stated.
Director Payne also highlighted the shortage of training tools and materials needed to ensure the school’s smooth operation.
He reiterated that vocational education is more capital-intensive than traditional academic programs, as it requires machinery, equipment, and consumable materials to provide students with practical, hands-on skills.
To enhance effectiveness and sustainability, the administration proposed expanding into income-generating ventures. These proposals include establishing a carpentry workshop to produce furniture for sale, operating a block-making enterprise using the school’s existing concrete mixer, and forming partnerships with local construction companies to supply building materials.
According to the MVTC administration, proceeds from these ventures could support school operations and reduce the institution’s heavy reliance on tuition fees.
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