Ambassador Masilo Esau Mabeta of South Africa Internship Graduate Students at the Event
In pursuit of quality education to empower students become more qualified for the world market, Odebrecht Construction International Inc. (OCII) on Friday, April 20, 2012 discharged one hundred and four interns in various Technical Vocational and Administrative Employability skills training.
The exercise which is the fourth of its kind after three months of intensive training, qualified students in the following areas; HSE, Administration, Electricity, Industrial Machinery, Workshop, Procurement/Warehouse, Construction, Carpentry, Quality Control, IT, Contract Management among others. Condensed at the Bassa High School Auditorium in Buchanan were more than one thousand partakers including international dignitaries, Government officials, Concession representatives as well as the students and other well-intentioned citizens of the County to grace the occasion with their presence.
In a welcome remark, GBCC’s President, Dr. Levi B. Zangai appreciated the development efforts of collaborating partners like Arcelor Mittal, Buchanan Renewable and most especially Odebrecht and others who continue to support the Grand Bassa Community College in making the traineeship and internship programs successful. According to Dr. Zangai, managing an institution of higher learning and technical education is a great challenge in the 21st Century where advance technology are conspicuous in Colleges and universities around the world, with that, he added that the Grand Bassa Community College is no exception.
He named buildings to be named in honor of donors on the College ongoing construction site, a Science building and laboratory equipment, and building and equipment for Technical and vocational training Education and training (TVET) programs, among others as challenges and constrains facing the management and sustainability of the College. As part of the many challenges and constraints facing the College, he named the lack of Computer Science Laboratory with internet services and equipment, Building for the College Women Resource Center, and encouraged companies and industries to help provide internship and traineeship opportunities for GBCC Students and graduates.
“We are lack of housing facilities for our faculty, staff, students and visiting Professors to GBCC new Campus in Payne berry, outside Buchanan. And in addition to that we are also in dire need of furniture and equipment for GBCC’s new Campus with an increased budgetary support for hiring more qualified instructors and professors in priority areas,” he added. The Guest speaker was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa, Masilo Esau Mabeta who described the gathering as one of those that defines Liberia’s approach to consolidating its future that he says is so embedded in the young people of the Country.
Ambassador Mabeta added that the program also highlights the potential role and work experience that Liberians have to play in the face of the challenges of missed education opportunities mostly by youth, which he said because of the conflict and other reasons. “The vision is very clear; to increase the involvement of young Liberians in the Country’s developing economy, to tap into the potential of its human resources”, he said.
Encouraging Liberians and business development community to strongly endorse institutional efforts, Ambassador Mabeta, emphasized that the Liberian Government strategy for reducing poverty have seen some results, but added that a deliberate effort by private sectors operating in Liberia to support Government’s efforts on the inclusion of youth in the economic realm, are yet to be seen. He asserted that addressing apprenticeship should be a collective challenge rather than a Government-dictated enterprise, and later commended the Government for making a tremendous effort by trying to address challenges to education and unemployment amongst what he described Liberia’s future bearers (youths). In order to chart Liberia course for the future, he challenged president Sirleaf on the issues of young people being supported as part of her top priority during her inaugural speech in late January of 2012.
“I have however noticed that students categories enrolled in this institution indicate a significantly low percentage of women participation. Gender disparities in education, unequal access and quality, urban and rural differences remain serious problems. The Gender gap in education also appears more evident at higher level,” he says.
According to Ambassador Mabeta, he has observed that the women resource center was listed almost last amongst the challenges facing the institution as if it were not a top priority, adding that the empowerment of women as a central point to development initiatives should be treated as such.
Commending the graduates, he said advocacy supported by strong policies therefore needs strengthening to institutionalize gender sensitive life skills including population and family education that will aimed at encouraging and improving educational opportunities and the reduction in the high rates of drop-outs.
For their part, Odebrecht Human Resource Manager, Deborah Camargo describing graduates as Liberia greatest resources, said Odebrecht as a company with commitment will continue to build the future of these graduates and not urged them to be focus and not allowing someone to do what they can do for themselves. “It is very important to build the future of graduates because they are very great to Liberia. With these qualified interns I strongly believed our company will now employ a small number of expatriates”. At the same time, recounting herself as a feminist, Grand Bassa County Superintendent, Etweda S. Cooper, encourage graduates to practicalise and volunteer their skills, something she said will help connect and link them to gain recognition to their future career jobs.
