Published: May 9, 2025
KWENDIN – About seven miles from Tappita, in Lower Nimba County’s Kwendin Town, nestled in Blinlon Clan, Yarmein Mehnsonnon Administrative District, the skeletal remains of what was once a proud beacon of vocational learning stand in disrepair.
The Kwendin Vocational Training Center (KVTC)—founded in the 1970s by the Baptist Church and operated by the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention with support from then-Vice President and later President William R. Tolbert—was once a thriving institution offering academic and technical education to young Liberians and students from neighboring countries.
Located on 2,500 acres of land donated by the people of Kwendin Township to the Baptist Church and President Tolbert, KVTC became a symbol of progress and opportunity. A portion of the land is still home to rubber plantations, while the remainder once accommodated classrooms, dormitories, and church facilities.
From its founding through the early 1990s, KVTC was considered among Liberia’s best institutions for technical and vocational training. Its strong affiliation with President Tolbert elevated its national status, drawing hundreds of students.
But like many institutions in Liberia, KVTC did not survive the civil conflict unscathed.
Crumbling Legacy
A few years ago, Canadian missionaries from Vancouver Baptist Church assisted in renovating one of the buildings. However, the effort barely scratched the surface. Most of the facilities remain dilapidated—abandoned, overgrown with brush, and used as shelter for animals.
The future of KVTC now hangs in the balance, with little indication that it will be restored to its former glory.
A Dream Deferred
Elder Moses L. Gbarkun, a Baptist deacon, educator, and prominent town elder, expressed dismay over the school’s condition.
“Our people gave their land to the Baptist Church and the former president because they wanted to have a school to educate people,” Gbarkun said. “But today, the school lies in a deplorable condition, and no one is coming to help.”
He added that while some individuals have pledged to help revive the school, none have delivered on their promises. The institution remains engulfed in brush, its structures in ruin.
“This is not the reason our people gave their land to the missionaries and the former president,” he said.
The Ghost Campus
A tour of the campus reveals a haunting sight: buildings overtaken by thick vegetation, looted classrooms, and silent, empty corridors. Nature has nearly reclaimed the compound.
Why Reviving KVTC Matters
Many alumni and residents believe restoring KVTC is not just desirable but essential—particularly in a county as populous as Nimba, where vocational education is scarce.
The only fully functional vocational school in the county today is operated by ArcelorMittal in its Yekepa concession area.
“It’s not possible for everyone to pursue a degree. We need plumbers, carpenters, solar technicians, and machine operators,” said a young resident who declined to be named.
Despite years of decline, young people in Kwendin remain hopeful that KVTC can once again become a center for skill development.
A Call to Action
Community leaders, residents, and KVTC alumni continue to appeal to the government, philanthropists, and NGOs to intervene.
“We gave our land free of charge hoping this school would educate our children,” said Deacon Gbarkun. “But as you can see, the school is dying, and no one is helping to revive it.”
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