Assessing the Effectiveness of Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Preparing Students for the Workforce in Liberia

Year : 2025 | Volume : 02 | Issue : 02 | Page : 31 38
    By

    Atul Khajuria,

  • Stephen Monday,

  • Christian Gendemeh,

  • J. Samuel Kamanda4,

  1. Director, Department of Allied Health Sciences, Desh Bhagat University, India, Punjab, India
  2. Teaching Assistant, Department of Allied Health Sciences, Desh Bhagat University, Punjab, India
  3. Teaching Assistant, Department of Allied Health Sciences, Desh Bhagat University, Punjab, India
  4. Teaching Assistant, Department of Allied Health Sciences, Desh Bhagat University, Punjab, India

Abstract

Training in Vocational and Educational Training (TVET) is important for students as it enables them to gain practical skills for employment. In Liberia, the main concern of TVET programs is the increasing supply needs for skilled workers in different industries Liberian industries. This research seeks to explore the effectiveness of these programs in Liberia in relation to employment and self-employment opportunities from the 833 respondents distributed across various TVET institutions. For Methods, A well-structured Likert scale questionnaire was used to collect data from the 833 respondents who completed TVET programs in Liberia. Some of the issues surveyed included pertinence of curriculum, quality of practical training offered, follow-up services, and partnership with employers. The data was processed by employing descriptive and inferential statistical analysis to identify patterns and relationships between and among the variables. In Results, A good proportion of the respondents, which is about 70%, indicated that indeed the TVET curriculum is relevant to the demands of the labor market requirements. On the contrary, 60% of the participants noted that there were limited opportunities for practical training components like internships. Around 55% of the respondents were able to get jobs within six months post-graduation, and 40% could start their own enterprises Employers reported being moderately satisfied (65%) with the skills of TVET graduates albeit with an emphasis on the lack of soft skills like communication and problem-solving skills In Conclusion, TVET programs in Liberia have a moderate effectiveness in equipping learners with job readiness skills, especially regarding the relevance of the curriculum to work and employment after school. However, the research points out insufficient practical work experiences and soft skill training. As a response, the TVET providers are encouraged to strengthen partnerships with employers to create more internship and train students in soft skills to align with industry needs.

Keywords: Vocational education, training, workforce preparation, TVET, liberia, employment outcomes, skills development, employer satisfaction

[This article belongs to Recent Trends in Social Studies ]

How to cite this article:
Atul Khajuria, Stephen Monday, Christian Gendemeh, J. Samuel Kamanda4. Assessing the Effectiveness of Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Preparing Students for the Workforce in Liberia. Recent Trends in Social Studies. 2025; 02(02):31-38.
How to cite this URL:
Atul Khajuria, Stephen Monday, Christian Gendemeh, J. Samuel Kamanda4. Assessing the Effectiveness of Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Preparing Students for the Workforce in Liberia. Recent Trends in Social Studies. 2025; 02(02):31-38. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/rtss/article=2025/view=230952


References

  1. Johnson R. Industry collaboration in vocational education: A case study from Liberia. J Voc Educ Train. 2020;72(4):564–80.
  2. Wilson P. Vocational education and employment outcomes: A global perspective. Educ Rev. 2017;89(1):45–60.
  3. Smith T, Green M. Soft skills in vocational training: The missing link to employability? Vocat Educ J. 2019;64(2):120–34.
  4. Education at a glance: OECD indicators 2018. Paris: OECD Publishing; 2018.
  5. Brown A. Enhancing the effectiveness of vocational education programs in Africa. Int J Educ. 2016;88(3):99–112.
  6. Jackson L, Hardy P. The role of TVET in economic development: A Liberian perspective. Dev Stud J. 2015;77(5):334–47.
  7. Miller D, Thomas J. Training for growth: How vocational education influences economic development. J Econ Dev. 2014;32(4):210–23.
  8. Babbage D. Assessing the impact of vocational education on workforce readiness. Educ Employ Rev. 2013;45(2):75–88.
  9. Peters L. A comparative study of vocational education programs in West Africa. Comp Educ Rev. 2012;47(1):100–18.
  10. Roberts H, Kim S. Linking vocational education to labor market needs: Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa. Int J Train Res. 2021;19(2):150–68.
Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 02
Issue 02
Received 10/05/2025
Accepted 31/10/2025
Published 10/11/2025
Publication Time 184 Days
187

Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics