By Moses M. Tokpah,charlesmenlor@gmail.com
MARGIBI COUNTY, LIBERIA- The German International Cooperation (GIZ) in collaboration with the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) has launched the road maintenance and construction training program in Kakata City, Margibi County, which is some 72 kilometers from Monrovia.
This is part of GTZ’s capacity development in the transport sector road TEVET Component in Liberia.
The launching ceremony was held in the auditorium of BWI on Monday September 30, 2019, bringing together trainees, trainers, faculty and staff of the BWI, Representatives of GIZ, the Swedish Government and the Ministries of Education and Public Works among others.
GIZ’s Wanda Moening in an interview with Journalists at the end of the program said the essence of the program is to train skill workers for the concession companies especially for small and medium size companies because those companies do not have skill workers.
“Therefore, our program decided not only to support the reform process of the Ministry of Public Works, but also to train skill workers, to create job for them if the small and medium size companies they take part in the tender process and the tender process is very difficult if you are not qualify enough,” she added.
The GIZ official disclosed that the training will last for the period of 12 months, with 9 periods, indicating that after each period and assessment will be done to evaluate learners indicating that learners will not be marked (given grade). But she said they will be told that they are competent or not.
Madam Moening recounted that highly developed training materials are being provided for teachers and learners adding that the curriculum was development by the private sector.
She noted that a few years ago GIZ had training for road construction but in smaller skills and it was not sustainable due to the lack of jobs and now there is a road fund with GIZ and other Companies constructing roads, which need to be maintained terming the program as being sustainable.
GIZ also trained the Association of Liberian Construction Contractors (ALCC) to develop their capacity and prepare their documents. And in the same vein, it has developed trainers for the road construction to train young people who will intern apply for jobs at the concession companies.
Madam Moening added: “The reform is supported by the Ministry of Public Workers for the road fund and other activities and now we are going to train the teachers for the road construction the same way we trained the Association of Liberian Construction Contractors to take the skill workers after the training to create jobs”.
GIZ is also said to be providing US$1million, while the Swedish Embassy is providing a little over US$200,000 and the support will be sustained because they don’t hire teachers from outside.
The Principal of BWI, Atty. Harris Fomba Tarnue said about 50 persons from Grand Kru, Maryland, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Nimba, Sinoe and Lofa Counties, among others are participating in the program.
He noted that Companies operating in the area of road construction and maintenance in the various Counties mentioned recruited and sent the participants hoping that upon their return they will be absorbed in order to help maintain the roads in their respective Counties.
BWI entered into an agreement with Association of Liberian Construction Contractors to be able to absorb from of their trainees into the different programs they have thereby unveiling them employment opportunity, Atty. Tarnue explained.
He said based on the success of the program, BWI will lobby for additional funding to continue the program to give those who have the dream of becoming road technicians to enroll into the program.
The BWI Principal at the same time disclosed plans for his administration to incorporate the program into BWI’s regular program by including road maintenance into the building trade.