IPNEWS: France is exploring stronger support for Liberiaโs technical and vocational education sector, with its Ambassador, H.E. Dominique Delpuech, visiting two vocational training institutions to assess their operations and identify opportunities to improve skills development and youth employment.
During visits to the Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC) and the Business Domestic Occupational Training Center (BDOTC) on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, Ambassador Delpuech emphasized the importance of equipping young Liberians with practical skills that can prepare them for the job market. He explained that the initiative is financed by the Agence Franรงaise de Dรฉveloppement (AFD) and implemented by the European Institute for Cooperation and Development (IECD). The Ambassador, who assumed his diplomatic assignment in Liberia about two months ago, said the visit would help him better understand the institutions and identify areas where development partners could provide additional support.
At BDOTC, Director Madam Yartu C. Josiah stressed that vocational training must go beyond classroom instruction and translate into real employment opportunities for graduates. “Training the students is just one aspect of it. Affording them the opportunity to get employed is another,” she said, highlighting IECD’s role in connecting graduates with job opportunities. She also showcased the institution’s hospitality training facilities, which provide students with practical experience in hotel operations, catering, baking, laundry, restaurant management, and event services. Meanwhile, MVTC Director Madam Irene T. Bass welcomed the Ambassador’s engagement, describing it as an encouraging sign of international confidence in Liberia’s efforts to strengthen vocational education and youth empowerment.
The visits highlight the growing importance of international partnerships in addressing youth unemployment and developing a skilled workforce in Liberia. Both institutions are expected to benefit from sustained cooperation aimed at improving training quality, strengthening institutional capacity, and connecting graduates with available employment opportunities. For Liberia’s young people, the broader goal is to ensure that vocational education does not end with a certificate but opens the door to decent work, economic independence, and a more secure future.
