Rep. Smith wants MVTC detached from MYS

Montserrado County District #2 Rep. Jimmy W. Smith has submitted a bill to the House of Representatives to detach the Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC) from the Ministry of Youth and Sports to become an autonomous institute.

According to Rep. Smith, the MVTC which is considered as the largest vocational training center in the country is not given the appropriate attention and support by authorities at the Ministry of Youths and Sports to allow the youth here get a quality technical vocational education.

Mr. Smith says after a detailed research and analysis, he has come to the realization that this is due to a bureaucratic bottleneck system at the Ministry of Youths and Sports.

According to Mr. Smith, the system does not allow the Director of MVTC or any administrator to have access to fund generated by the institution least to talk about the payment of teachers’ salaries, except the Minister and his or her deputies at the Ministry of Youths and Sports.

He says he has also realized that the MVTC under the supervision of the MYS does not have an Act or Board of Directors, least to talk about the exploration of any possibility for sisterly relationship with other international technical vocational institutions.

Rep. Smith says due to this bureaucratic bottleneck system, the Director of MVTC and his deputies cannot approve a petty cash for hygienic purposes or purchase educational material for the institution except the Minister.

He believes that granting this institution an autonomous status will greatly speed up its improvement and give students the necessary quality technical vocational education that are needed for the rebuilding of the nation.

By Bridgett Milton–Edited by Winston W. Parley