Montserrado County District 10 youthful representative aspirant, Y. Solomon W. Watkins has vowed to pass legislation that would promote technical and vocational education and training to be offered to all Liberians, especially students ahead of graduation from high school, something, according to him, is overdue for Liberian students.
He said this will call for educational reform in helping to equip Liberians with relevant skills and knowledge, thereby enabling them to effectively participate in social, economic and technological innovation processes, which is essential for the development of any social structure given the unemployment gap and hardship in Liberia.
The District 10 representative hopeful said it is mindboggling to see lots of students who have graduated from high schools with relatively no technical skill, considering the limited of job opportunity in the country and there is nothing being done to arrest the situation.
"As long as I am alive, no student will graduate from high school without acquiring technical skill in Liberia, especially Montserrado County, District 10. We will further push for systematic reform for the life betterment of all persons in Liberia. This will help us close the current economic gap the country is experiencing. But in the main time, we will keep providing such empowerment opportunities to residents of our District and Township.
Watkins who is the founder and sponsor of the Watkins Initiative for Nation (WIN), a prodemocracy organization operating in Montserrado County Electoral District 10, made the vow over the weekend when received graduates who were turned over to him by trainers of WIN's In-School Youth Cohort.
The Alpha Cohort of WIN witnessed the graduation of over 150Senior Students from various high schools within District 10, including the Christ the King Catholic School, David Lombel Memorial Institute, Living Water Baptist School, St. Andrew Lutheran High School and Monrovia Open Bible Standard School. The students have completed a week of intensive training in the production of chlorax, liquid soap, soap powder, floor cleaner, and tie & dye, organized under WIN "Empowerment Brings Development" program.
Mis. Watchen O. Zarzar, Head Trainer of WIN said providing basic empowerment opportunity to youth, especially senior students attending various high schools in preparation to obtaining college/university education within Montserrado County Electoral District 10, will help further enhance the productivity and development of people in that locality.
"We are thinking the future of the generation now and the ones yet to come. We don't want to see our senior students continue to graduate from various high schools without having basic skills. Mr. Y. Solomon W. Watkins, our sponsor is very straight forward on supporting this.
He wants to see everyone is substantially empowered in Liberia especially our District 10, beginning with this lifetime economic empowerment program for all persons," Miss. Zarzar noted in a turning over of the graduates to their sponsor Watkins.
Also speaking, Mrs. J. Krubo D. K. Solomon, Education and Development Officer of WIN noted that all is set for the program to extend to all senior high schools within Montserrado County District 10 and the Township of Congo Town.
The Township hosts parts of Montserrado County Districts 5 and 6 with the entire landmass of District 10 covered under it.
Apart from the in-school youth program, according to her, Watkins is sponsoring another empowerment program including a holding center for human development established in Gaye Town Community on the Old Road where women, girls and boys are learning pastry/catering, cosmetology/hairdressing, tailoring and interior decoration/African beans design on a 100% tuition free basis.
She further mentioned of center being opened in the RC Lawson Community and Peace Island Communities to ensure vast majority of the District 10 population as well as all Liberians desiring to acquire requisite skills as they faced the harsh economic challenge on a 100% tuition free paste.
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She further noted that the entrepreneurship program which is benefiting the high school students is 100% tuition and registration free with support from Watkins.
Watkins recently declared his intention to contest during the pending General Legislative and Presidential Elections for Montserrado County District 10 Legislative seat. Residents believed Watkins is the political game-changer of Montserrado County, Electoral District 10 given the level of developmental works undertaken with in the district, ranking from being the highest contributor to youth education, road rehabilitation, water and sanitation, health, infrastructure, empowerment and contribution to communities, schools and religious institutions (Churches and Mosques).
