South-South Study Visit to CHINA and INDIA Skills and Technical and Vocational Education and Training November 1-12, 2010
PRESENTATION of the REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA
COUNTRY OVERVIEW AND KEY DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES Liberia is at an inflection point, moving from transitional post-conflict recovery to laying the foundations for long-term development. The Liberian economy, institutions, and human capacity suffered the gradual and deep destruction of a protracted civil war Young Liberians and the rural populace were hit especially hard. Remarkable progress in the post-conflict economy and political process The elections of 2005 ushered in a democratic government intent on redirecting the economy by creating broad ownership of the political structure.
Liberia remains fragile and exposed to the global crisis. Current per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated at US$222, and an estimated 63.8 percent of Liberia 3.5 million people live below the poverty line, with 47.9 percent living in extreme poverty. The revenue sources of the GoL's cash-based budget are subject to the fluctuations of international markets which have been impacted by the crisis. Exports of natural resources are the main source of revenue for the GoL: international trade taxes account for 50 percent of Liberia's tax revenue, but commodity prices have declined significantly due to the crises. Revenues from rubber exports, which account for nearly 80% of Liberian exports, have been hit by a 60 percent decline in the international marketprice for rubber.
Poverty reduction and peace stabilization require new employment opportunities, and necessitate accelerated structural changes in the economy. Unemployment, underemployment, and unpaid work rates vary between 20 and 40 percent of the working-age population. The vast majority of the employed are engaged in very low paying jobs thereby underpinning the cycles of poverty or extreme poverty.
To improve youth employment, there is a need to provide non-cognitive, basic, and technical skills training, including a well-functioning technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system. Vocational skills training programs and training and retraining in basic literacy, numeracy, and non-cognitive skills can assist in recuperating the loss of basic skills and workforce readiness and help increase youth employability. This, in turn, requires the increased capacity of and incentives for providers and employers, quality assurance, certification of training services and providers, and a more effective TVET system. There have been extensive efforts by donors to provide training programs to various at risk groups (deplacement, demobilization,etc) but these remain fragmented, unsustainable and with unclear outcomes in terms of employment, employability
Formal TVET system: is highly fragmented among several ministries, has no accreditation or certification system in place, cost-prohibitive Monitoring: unclear skill matching, unclear outcomes in terms of employment. The informal, private apprenticeship system is better aligned with demand; however, it lacks resources and clear standards. Comprehensive TVET reform is necessary to reorient public and private TVET providers into a sustainable, demand-driven system.
Current Status of TVET in Liberia Lack of a clear mission, coordination and unclear mandates amongst government agencies and other TVET providers Multiplicity of testing and certification standards Weak link with industry and employers, despite skills shortages graduates cannot find employment No policy guiding the sector Shortage of qualified instructors, poor infrastructure Outdated curricula with little links to labor market demand Low female participation Weak implementation capacities for reform
Key milestones towards sector reform Formation of National Working Group on TVET National Conference on TVET held in August 2009 Review of existing TVET law (PRC Decree No. 56), Plan to establish a National Commission for TVET (NACTVET) Draft National TVET Policy Framework developed Youth Employability Program, joint by several UN agenceis Youth, Employment, Skills Project to pilot demand driven skills training towards employment
Outcomes from National TVET Conference Recommendations of the Draft National TVET policy framework National TVET coordinating and quality assurance body critical to improving sector Include private sector in all aspects of TVET reform Set up TVET fund to support development activities Include life and literacy skills in TVET offerings especially in non-formal settings Expand access to marginalized regions and groups
Main Functions of NACTVET 1. 1. Develop National TVET policy 2. Develop a National TVET Qualification Framework 3. Assure quality in delivery of TVET 4. Ensure equity in access to TVET 5. Develop and maintain a national TVET database 6. Facilitate research and development in TVET sector
Main Functions of NACTVET 2. 7. Coordinate, harmonize, and supervise the activities of private and public sector TVET providers 8. Mobilize financial and other resources to support TVET activities 9. Promote cooperation with international agencies and development partners 10. Issue progress and annual reports on the state of TVET in the country 11. Advise Government of Liberia on all matters relating to TVET system
What is at stake? Lack of a coherent coordination and certification system (NQF) makes resources allocated to TVET programs ineffective Funding by Donors, Partners may not come in absence of a demand-driven and sustainable system with clear outcome monitoring MSE-s don t become engines of private sector driven economic growth, concessions, lead industries import skilled manpower Unemployment and underunderemployment hinders economic growth, social cohesion, peace-building
What needs to be done? Enact relevant national legislation, amend existing laws Strengthen Governmental capacities for better coordination between sectors Better management of resources Stronger policy framework Monitoring and observatory functions for skills demand and supply Create incentives for private sector participation
TOP 3 LEARNING OBJECTIVES The Top 3 Learning Objectives of the Liberian Delegation are as follows: 1. Exposure to the tenets, strategies, best practices and challenges of the highly successful TVET reform process of India & China 2. Acquire a practical understanding of the strength of the private sector involvement in TVET reform 3. Review of the Policies, legal framework, etc. that propel and sustain TVET reform in India and China 2. Additional information on Liberia can be found on emansion@gov.lr 3. Liberian Delegation 4. 1. Sam E. Hare, Jr./ Deputy Minister for Youth Development 5. 2. Joseph Duwor/ Director, Agricultural and Industrial Bureau 6. 3. Solomon King/ Executive Director, Liberia Opportunities and 7. Industrialization Center