MTHE SIGNS MOU WITH GIZ ON EPP-IV (TVET COMPONENT)

The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on the implementation of the Employment Promotion Programme Phase Four (EPP-1V)- Technical, Vocational, Education and Training (TVET) Component. The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry's Conference Room in New England Ville.

The Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Prof. Alpha Tejan Wurie, encouraged members present to heighten advocacy so that people can give credence to technical education. According to Prof. Wurie, the fact that a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) has been developed indicates that people can now know the levels they should attain to move from one stage to the other, and the fact that the National Vocational Qualification Exams (NVQE) will be developed, indicates that students can go to technical universities not just through WASSCE exams, but through technical exams as well. He expressed delight in the implementation of Competency-Based Trainings in the sense that people that may have been left out still have an opportunity to be educated. "...every single Sierra Leonean is important in what they give and what they can do for us as a country... I feel confident in signing this MOU that indeed we are making way for the people of Sierra Leone," he said.

The Programme Coordinator of GIZ-EPP IV, Dr. Ralph Zimmermann, commended the competency and professionalism of MTHE's staff in being so receptive to GIZ, adding that a solid foundation for working in partnership has been established as evidenced in the signing of the MOU. He envisioned that through close coordination and a sense of working collectively in the same direction, chances are that the desired improvement for the underemployed and unemployed youths in Sierra Leone would be achievable. He continued that GIZ will support MTHE in the following areas with a view to strengthening the already existing partnership:

• Teacher training and equipment provided to the Ministry
• Development of a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) for TVET
• Expansion, renovation and new construction of four vocational schools in Koinadugu, Kono and Kailahun
• New development of a variety of modern competency-based curricular and cooperation with the private sector
• Piloting of dual apprenticeship training programme
• And in-service training for trainers and company staff

MTHE's Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer, Dr. Josephus Brimah, expressed gratitude to GIZ for its support to MTHE in many ways. He said that the MOU is just to set a clear roadmap that defines the existing relationship between MTHE and GIZ. He considered GIZ as one of MTHE's main partners in solidifying technical education in the country.

MTHE's Permanent Secretary, Mr. Gilbert Cooper, said that the diagnostic studies done by GIZ laid the basis for MTHE's intervention into TVET as a sub-sector. According to Mr. Cooper, MTHE had to tour around the whole country to validate what was in the study, and everything came out to be absolutely correct. He also expressed gratitude to GIZ for playing a critical role in the development of the TVET Policy. "The TVET Policy has gone through Parliament and it is now a government document. So it is now our collective responsibility to go through the implementation plan and see how we can implement all of the activities therein," he said.