New Team to Reinvigorate AITB for Enhanced Manpower Development
(L-R) Abraham Billy, Director General, Wesley D. M. Nyenatoh, Deputy Director General Administration, and Alphanso Paye Korto, Deputy Director General for Technical Services
In response to the urgent need for adequate and effective technical and vocational education in Liberia, the new leadership team of the Agricultural and Industrial Training Bureau (AITB) within the National Council on Technical and Vocational Education Training (NCVTET) has introduced an ambitious plan to position itself as a central hub for manpower development in the country.
By Bill Jorkpehn
Appointed under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s strategic ARREST agenda, the AITB’s management, led by Director General Abraham Billy and Deputy Director Generals Alphanso Paye Korto and Wesley D. M. Nyenatoh, is focusing on enhancing productivity in the agricultural and industrial sectors.
This proactive and innovative management team has outlined a comprehensive vision to elevate Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a cornerstone of manpower development in Liberia.
The AITB’s mission is centered on improving skills, fostering innovation, and driving productivity in the nation’s industries through targeted programs and initiatives. Despite being largely inactive in the past, the bureau is on the verge of undergoing significant transformations to enhance its effectiveness and operational capabilities.
“We want to change the current situation of the AITB. It has a great mandate to contribute not only to the manpower development but the overall advancement of the Liberian society,” Billy told the Daily Observer. “We want to ensure that in the next six years, AITB will be at a different level. We will be in the center of the development of this country’s human resources.”
Ambitious Plan to Reposition the AITB
With a focus on setting training standards and delivering comprehensive technical and vocational education, the AITB seeks to align its efforts with national workforce requirements and industry demands.
One key aspect of the bureau’s revitalized strategy involves ensuring that all technical and vocational institutions in the agricultural, industrial, and commercial sectors meet quality standards.
The bureau, in accordance with its act, wants to lead in setting training standards in all Technical/ Vocational Agricultural, Industrial, and commercial trades initiatives.
“We want to ensure that the AITB plays a crucial role in establishing comprehensive training standards across various technical and vocational sectors,” Billy said. “This will involve rolling out the current Liberian National Qualification Framework (NQF) and periodic review of the NQF for the development of skills, knowledge, and competencies required for different trades.”
The standards are designed to ensure consistency and quality in training programs offered by institutions. “By collaborating with industry stakeholders, educational experts, government agencies, and development partners, the AITB will ensure that these standards meet current labor market demands and technological advancements.”
“The AITB will also ensure that all agriculture, industry, and commercial TVET institutions meet the minimum requirements to operate in Liberia,” the DG noted. “We have to do this because the AITB has been unable to roll out the standards and guidelines set for technical and vocational agricultural, industrial, and commercial training institutions to follow due to limited attention bypassed governments.”
By conducting regular trade testing, certification processes, and in-service training for instructors, the AITB aims to elevate the performance and competency levels of the workforce in these vital sectors.
“Trade test is supposed to be a regular activity of the AITB to establish confidence in the performance of our workforce. In addition to confidence building, trade tests will raise revenue for the government. The AITB has not been able to carry out regular trade tests, the last it was done was in 2012 with funding support from the USAID,” Billy said.
“The AITB is also tasked with issuing Certificates of Competency to training institutions that meet established standards. These certificates serve as official recognition that an institution provides quality training programs aligned with national standards,” DG Billy said. “By certifying institutions, the AITB helps maintain high educational standards in technical and vocational training, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for careers in agriculture, industry, and commerce.”
Through an informed assessment of skill needs, targeted curriculum development, and ongoing collaboration with industry stakeholders, the AITB endeavors to bridge the gap between educational standards and workforce readiness.
He added that the entity plans to assess all public and private technical/ vocational agricultural, industrial, and commercial institutions and prepare scorecards on performance in relation to national standards.
In-service training of technical and vocational trainers is also at the core of the new management’s plan.
“This is meant to ensure that trainers can effectively impart knowledge and skills to their students while adapting to changes in industry practices but the AITB is yet to perform this task.”
Billy and his team are also contemplating doing regular assessments of skill needs in agriculture, industry, and commerce, a critical function of the AITB that identifies skill needs within various sectors.
“This involves analyzing labor market trends, employer feedback, and emerging technologies to determine what skills are in demand,” he said. “By understanding these needs, the AITB will guide curriculum development for technical and vocational training programs and ensure that graduates possess relevant skills sought by employers. Again, the AITB has been challenged with limited funding support and technicians to conduct regular assessment of skills needs”.
By adhering to rigorous standards and regulations, the bureau aspires to create a level playing field for technical and vocational education providers while safeguarding the interests of students and promoting national economic development.
Billy also told the Observer that he and his team will be hard on how permits are issued to public and private agricultural, industry, and commercial TVET Institutions.
“There is no record to show that the AITB has issued permits to any technical and vocational agricultural, industrial, and commercial training institution. We understand that the issuance of permits to TVET institutions has been a major function of the Ministry of Education,” he said. “The Ministries of Education and Youth and Sports provide administrative and technical management within the public technical and vocational institutions. The Cooperative Development Agency (CDA) issues permits to agricultural cooperatives. Meanwhile, the process to ensure that all institutions adhere to national training standards before they begin offering programs is the responsibility of the AITB. By regulating government and non-governmental entities, the AITB helps maintain a level playing field among all providers of technical and vocational education while safeguarding students’ interests.”
By structuring its approach to workforce development, the AITB not only empowers individuals with relevant skills but also plays a significant role in fostering economic growth and addressing societal challenges faced by Liberia.
“Through its structured approach to workforce development, AITB will not only enhance individual capabilities but also contribute significantly to building a competitive economy that can thrive in an increasingly complex global landscape,” he said.
With a renewed commitment to building a competitive and skilled workforce, the AITB aims to contribute to the country’s advancement and prosperity in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
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