By Danesius Marteh, archie2024@gmail.com
The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) will is preparing to launch President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s technical and vocational education (TVET) drive for motorcyclists and tricyclists.
Sports Minister Jeror Cole Bangalu (Cllr.) disclosed that President Boakai will launch the pilot project, which starts in November for 300 persons at the Monrovia Vocational Training Center in Paynesville.
Bangalu said the TVET project is intended to give young people a lifetime career opportunity where they will now use their bikes to commute to work after graduation.
“We believe strongly that motorcycle riding isn’t a real sustainable form of employment. We are going to start piloting with the motorcycle and tricycle unions.
“Of course on their forms, they have specified that they want to learn about carpentry, masonry, auto mechanics, plumbing, refrigeration and air-conditioner repair and etcetera. That will be a more sustainable form of employment.
“After this program, these guys will stay have their motorcycles but they will be using it to go to work. They will not be thinking about going in the streets because these forms of employment are in demand. You know the kinds of construction that is going on [in Liberia],” said Bangalu in an exclusive interview at the Samuel Kanyon Doe sports complex in Paynesville on 17 October.
He said the MYS intends to replicate the project nationwide provided the government and its partners in youth development provide the support.
“We have the Clay Vocational Training Institute in Bomi County. We have Tumutu [Agriculture and Vocational Training Center] in Bong County. So we already have the facility. We just want a small push from the government and donor partners.
“We hope that it will be something that eventually the government is going to see it as part of the human capital development and the minister of finance and development planning [Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan] is really interested in these kinds of initiatives and we know that is going to be supported by the government,” said a hopeful Bangalu.
