GIZ, EU dedicate TVET institute in Bentol City

 Funded by the German Government and the European Union, GVTC seeks to deliver quality vocational education to Liberians, most especially the youthful population. 

By Lincoln G. Peters

Montsrrado, Liberia, May 8, 2024 – Gateway Vocational Training Center (GVTC), a technical and vocational training institution funded by the German Government through GIZ and the European Union, has been formally dedicated here upon completion. 

GIZ and the European Union officially dedicated a state-of-the-art facility of the Gateway Vocational Training Center (GVTC) in Bentol City, Montserrado County, on Monday, May 6, 2024.

The institute has capacity to enroll about 50 students with boarding facilities.

Officials of government and members of the diplomatic community graced the dedicatory ceremony. Also, the program marking the official opening of the new facility was held jointly with the graduation of 16 students from its temporary facility in Sinkor. 

GIZ Country Director Raphael Frerking described GVTC’s new campus as a state-of-the-art facility that endeavors to deliver quality vocational education to Liberians, especially youth. 

Bentol School opening photos with EU Ambassador and others

Mr. Frerking said the graduates will, in turn, be economically potent to make meaningful contributions to society. 

He said GVTC was funded by the EU and the German government under the ‘TVET by the Private Sector in Liberia’ project and implemented by GIZ under its Capacity Development in the Transport Sector (CDTS) project. 

He lauded the EU, the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, and partner ministries in Liberia, including the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, for their invaluable support and partnership towards this success. 

Country Director Frerking said the GVTC will serve as a beacon of excellence and opportunity for future generations. 

“My sincere thanks also go out to the three founding associations of the GVTC – the Association of Liberian Construction Contractors, the Engineering Society of Liberia, the Liberian Institute of Architects, the GVTC Board of Directors, and Management team for your vision, leadership, and tireless dedication. It is through your commitment and passion that we have created a training facility that will serve as a beacon of excellence and opportunity for future generations, ” he notes.

He said the institution has the potential to transform lives and shape the future of Liberia positively. 

German Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Dr. Jakob Haselhuber, said the institution is an excellent example of a private-public partnership geared to bring transformation. 

Underscoring the importance of technical and vocational training, the German envoy noted that TVET has enormous advantages, such as the potential to promote economic growth and boost employability. 

Ms. Nona Deprez, the Head of the EU Delegation to Liberia, reaffirmed the EU’s support for private-sector TVET development. 

She assured that the EU will do this through funding to construct new campuses and to train teachers to enhance quality. 

The EU Ambassador urged the new graduates to be ambassadors of the GVTC’s sustainability, as they are the school’s first example. 

“The excellent displays and quality of work by you, the graduates, are the first guarantee of sustainability,” she underscored with a call to stakeholders to promote gender equality regarding trainees and trainers in TVET. 

The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of GVTC, Madam Jocelia Tarplah, joined previous speakers in extolling the meaningful contributions of the Association of Liberian Construction Contractors (ALCC), the Engineering Society of Liberia (ESoL), the Liberian Institute of Architects (LIA), and Firestone Liberia, among others in different aspects.

The GVTC board chair informed the gathering that the new facility will serve as a hub of innovation, collaboration, and excellence, with the assurance that the Board will ensure effective management of the new center. 

“It is a place where knowledge meets practice, skills are honed, and leaders of tomorrow are forged. This facility is a testament of our unwavering long-term commitment to fostering growth, nurturing talent, and empowering individuals to reach their full potential for years to come.” 

Mr. Thomas Parker, Assistant Minister for Planning and Research at the Ministry of Education, and Mr. Laraamand Shenkin Nyonton, Deputy Minister for TVET at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, respectively, pledged the government’s commitment to supporting the TVET sector. 

For his part, the Manager of GVTC, Mr. Abraham Wowah, explained that the institution offers six months of institutional (on campus) training and six months of job attachment training. Editing by Jonathan Browne