Civil Society Movement Calls for Greater Investment in TVET Development

The National Coordinator of the Civil Society Movement Sierra Leone, Juliet Anderson, has called on the Government to strengthen its commitment to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), describing it as a key driver of Sierra Leone’s national development and economic future.

Anderson said technical and vocational education should not be viewed as an alternative pathway but as a central component of building a skilled workforce capable of supporting economic growth and human capital development.

She stressed that improving TVET requires more than introducing new programmes, noting that training institutions must be equipped with qualified tutors and the necessary resources to deliver quality, practical, and industry-relevant education.

The Civil Society Movement coordinator urged Government ministers to continue investing in skills development initiatives that empower young people and strengthen local talent.

Reflecting on previous efforts, Anderson referenced technical training centres established during the post-war Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programme, noting that many of those facilities failed to achieve their intended long-term impact.

However, she expressed optimism that the Government’s renewed focus on TVET reforms could produce better outcomes if properly implemented, adding that sustained investment and commitment would be critical to transforming Sierra Leone’s human capital development.

Anderson’s remarks come amid ongoing efforts by stakeholders to reposition technical and vocational education as a pathway for skills development, employment creation, and economic transformation.