ArcelorMittal Liberia is pleased to announce that plans are on course for the renovation and re-opening of the Vocational Training Center (VTC) in Yekepa, Nimba County.

ArcelorMittal Liberia and the Ministry of Education have worked collaboratively over the last two years to facilitate a transition of the VTC management to the company. Both the Ministry and the company share a vision for a new VTC that will excel in training Liberians in the skills demanded by Liberia’s re-emerging industrial sectors, including mining.

According to an agreement reached between ArcelorMittal Liberia and the Ministry of Education (MoE), the Ministry was tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that the buildings on the campus were vacant for renovation work to begin.

ArcelorMittal Liberia’s responsibilities include renovating and refurbishing the campus facilities, providing internships for graduating seniors at the institution, supporting the relocation of the eight instructors currently employed by the Ministry of Education, and taking over the operation of the institution.

To date, all of the structures at the VTC, with the exception of the teachers’ quarters, have been turned over to the company, and current seniors at the institution are being placed in internships with various departments in the company.

ArcelorMittal Liberia is now ready to begin the renovation work, which includes repairing the administration building, training workshops, student residences, teachers’ housing and the mess facility.

Experts from within and outside the company have been retained to assist in this work. The renovation work should be completed by December 31st and the reopening of the institution is set for the 2014 academic year.