Saturday, August 22, 2009

Young Professional Program Demands High Standards


… Pres. Sirleaf Points At Good GPA & Community Participation
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says the President Young Professional Program (PYPP) will demand of qualified participants, high standards of performance in academic works and community; reports Bill K. Jarkloh.
The President also said although reward in terms of salaries of participants may not be that too big, participants stand top immensely benefit in its long term agenda. The President spoke at the Monrovia City Hall Thursday when she officially launched the PYPP
The PYPP which aligns with national Capacity Development Strategy is closely coordinated with Liberia’s civil service Agency, and the Ministry of Planning’s Capacity Development Unit. It is being implemented by these relevant government institutions in collaboration with Johns Snow Incorporated (JSI) Liberia.
In her remarks when she launched the program, the President said those that will be qualified will have to have talents that requires of them grade average and community service participation that would pull them out amongst the other from their your communities or in the schools or institutions, so as to be identified as the top ones who have the potential to become professionals.
“It will require talents because on the job their will be learning and knowledge sharing including building skills on computer training programs to enable you to build on the knowledge that is attained from the University,” President Sirleaf noted, indicating that the reward will not be so large in terms of the monthly pay they m ay put themselves as ones favored to go high in service when they shall have applied all the skills to be achieves while on the program.
“Just thing of it in a longer time when you enhance your talents when you work with people that will enable you to grow professionally, you would have put yourself becoming one of favored ones to go high in service when you shall have applied all the skills to be achieves while on the program,” she encourage the prospective participants.
She said the PYPP is one of the initiatives of her administration intended to for capacity building and directed towards using Liberians at home and in the diaspora to foster the country’s development objectives.
She name many other projects sponsored by American billionaire George Soro and others, who committed resources that will enable to incorporate high level Liberian professionals in the diaspora to return home and take up responsible position in government.
“The resources provided,” she said, “enable us to at least extend the opportunity cause to offer government salary as an incentive to come home.”
She also made reference to a program of the UNDP to repatriate Liberians home for a limited period of time which she noted has also providing them a salary scale that is more than the government can provide, and made mention of the Senior Executive Service (SES) Program, one intended to attract Liberians professionals at home and abroad to come and undergo program supported by wide range of donors - bilateral and some foundations - to provide money for the attraction of talents that are needed to carry on the task of managing the development program of Liberia.
The PYPP, a proxy of the Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs – Amara Konneh said, is a full time program and is not a part-time one and required for admission into the two years PYPP program include a current CV or résumé, a most recent college transcript and three letters of recommendations.
Speakers at the occasion, including Deputy Justice Minister for Administration Eva-Mae Mappy Morgan, a Liberian Fellow assigned at the Ministry of Education- Lincoln Ajoku, JSI’s PYPP Program Manager and fellow – Saah Charles N’Tow and Theresa Jordon who is the National Capacity Development Program at the Civil Service Agency have all spoken well of the President’s Young Professional Program.
Mr. Charles N’Tow disclosed how the PYPP will pay the young professionals some US$350 with transportation attached, saying that the first phase of the program is running for the next two years and may be expanded or extended after its first phase.

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