Published: February 5, 2026
CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia — Sinoe County District #3 Representative Alex S. Noah has submitted a bill to the House of Representatives seeking to establish the Juarzon Vocational and Technical Institute (JVTI), a proposed public institution aimed at widening access to technical and vocational education across southeastern Liberia.
The proposed legislation, titled “An Act to Establish the Juarzon Vocational and Technical Institute (JVTI) 2026,” positions Juarzon Statutory District as a strategic hub for technical and vocational education and training (TVET), citing its historical significance and central location among major towns and statutory districts in the southeast.
According to the bill, Juarzon—Liberia’s second-oldest statutory district—offers geographic and social advantages that make it suitable for hosting a regional vocational and technical institute. Lawmakers backing the proposal argue that the district’s accessibility would allow students from across southeastern Liberia to benefit from skills-based education.
In the bill’s preamble, Rep. Noah highlights the growing demand for practical skills training as a pathway to self-employment, job creation, and sustainable national development. The legislation emphasizes the need to equip Liberia’s youth and workforce with market-relevant competencies in response to persistent unemployment and skills gaps.
The bill also grounds its justification in Article 6 of the 1986 Constitution, which guarantees equal access to education and calls for mass education and the eradication of illiteracy.
If enacted, the law would establish JVTI as a public institution of higher learning in Juarzon Statutory District, Sinoe County, with its principal campus to be located in Bilibokree.
The institute’s core mandate would be to provide accessible vocational and technical education to rural Liberians, with particular emphasis on youth, women, and adult learners throughout southeastern Liberia.
The proposed law outlines a governance structure under a Board of Trustees, to be appointed by the President of Liberia in consultation with the Ministries of Education and Youth and Sports.
The board would comprise representatives from national and local government, civil society organizations, the private sector, and professionals with expertise in technical and vocational education. One of the professional members would serve as chairperson, while the board would elect a co-chairperson at its first sitting.
Day-to-day administration of JVTI would be handled by a president, assisted by two vice presidents—one for administration and one for operations and student affairs.
These officials would be appointed by the President of Liberia from a shortlist recommended by the Board of Trustees through a competitive recruitment process and would be subject to confirmation by the Liberian Senate.
Under the bill, funding for the institute would come from multiple sources, including national budgetary allocations, grants from international partners and donors, contributions from local companies and private institutions, and income-generating projects undertaken by the institute itself.
The proposed law mandates collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Liberia Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training to develop and periodically review JVTI’s curriculum. The goal is to ensure alignment with both national development priorities and local manpower needs.
To ensure a smooth rollout, the bill provides for the creation of a transitional committee within six months of the law’s passage. The committee would be responsible for identifying temporary facilities, developing staff recruitment plans, and engaging key stakeholders ahead of permanent infrastructure development.
If passed, the law would take effect immediately upon publication into handbills and would override any existing laws to the contrary.
Supporters of the legislation say the establishment of JVTI could play a crucial role in bridging skills gaps, reducing unemployment, and promoting inclusive development in Sinoe County and across southeastern Liberia.
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