Education Minister Dr. Jarso M. Jallah is calling for greater emphasis on skills-based education, saying Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) must become central to Liberia’s efforts to develop its workforce and transform the economy.
Minister Jallah said Liberia’s education system has traditionally placed greater emphasis on academic learning, creating a gap between classroom instruction and the practical skills needed to earn livelihoods and contribute to national development.
She made the remarks during the send-off of teachers selected to participate in a specialized agriculture training program supported by the European Union.
According to Jallah, the training goes beyond professional development for the selected teachers, describing it as part of a broader effort to reshape Liberia’s approach to technical and vocational education, particularly in agriculture.
“Technical vocational education bridges that gap,” Jallah said, explaining that practical training equips students with skills they can use to build sustainable livelihoods, innovate and contribute directly to the workforce and local economy.
She urged educators to move beyond viewing the classroom as a space confined to four walls, encouraging them to connect learning with practical activities and real-world challenges.
The Minister identified agriculture as a key avenue for applying skills-based education because of its importance to Liberia’s economy and the livelihoods of communities across the country.
Recalling Liberia’s history as a producer and exporter of rice, Jallah argued that strengthening technical and vocational education could help the country rebuild its productive capacity.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our nation,” she said, urging the participating teachers to use the knowledge gained from their training to strengthen practical agricultural education when they return.
Jallah emphasized that the teachers were selected not only to acquire specialized skills but also to transfer their knowledge to students and communities.
She cautioned participants against viewing the training as an individual benefit, stressing that they have a responsibility to return to Liberia and share the expertise they acquire.
The Minister said the government intends to enforce commitments signed by the teachers before their departure.
“We are enforcing that to the letter,” Jallah said, emphasizing that participants are expected to honor their commitment to return and impart their newly acquired skills.
She noted that Liberia’s skills-development needs extend beyond Monrovia and other urban centers, with rural and semi-urban communities also requiring access to practical education and agricultural expertise.
Jallah pointed to Germany and China as examples of countries where technical and vocational skills have contributed to industrial and economic development.
She argued that Liberia’s own transformation will similarly require people capable of applying practical skills to everyday work, agriculture and productive activities.
As the teachers prepare for the training, the Education Minister urged them to remain committed to continuous learning and familiarize themselves with modern techniques, strategies and tools.
She also challenged them to consider how the skills acquired could be incorporated into school curricula and community-based projects.
“Be visionary,” Jallah told the teachers, encouraging them to think beyond the immediate training and consider how technical skills could address practical needs in their communities.
She said the knowledge gained could have an impact far beyond the participants’ individual classrooms, potentially benefiting generations of students who will receive practical instruction from the trained teachers.
Jallah thanked the European Union for supporting the initiative and commended the teachers for accepting the opportunity to strengthen their professional skills.
She expressed hope that the participants would return with new knowledge and practical expertise capable of strengthening Liberia’s TVET system and contributing to the country’s broader development objectives.
The Minister’s call comes amid growing emphasis on aligning education with employment and productivity, particularly by equipping young Liberians with practical skills that can support entrepreneurship, agriculture and other sectors of the economy.
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