The government of Rwanda has secured funding for the construction of 10 specialized Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools across the country. The financing is being supported with a whopping US $80m from the Indian Export and Import Bank (EXIM bank).

While confirming the reports Mr. Jonah Kwikiriza, the Acting Coordinator of the Single Project Implementation Unit at Workforce Development Authority (WDA)  said that they are finalizing the plans with the government to break ground for the construction. The development is part of an effort to have at least 60% of students who complete ordinary level of high school to join vocational education. The target had previously been set for 2018, but it was later revised to 2024 due to lack of enough infrastructure and teaching staff among other constraints.

The WDA, have already mapped out where the facilities will be built  based on different criteria which include access to water sources, electricity, and road infrastructure. The development project which will be built 10 districts will involve construction of four new incubation centres. WDA  have organised three different trades (combinations) per school whereby each trade will have two different streams, and every stream will accommodate a minimum 30 students, meaning at least 180 students per school with standard practical workshops.

“Districts have different market demands and raw materials, so it was a better way to come up with an initiative which has an impact on society using hands-on skills. Under this project, we shall let the teachers, together with all officials concerned, shortlist the disciplines to be particularly taught in their areas and we will compare with the priority centres and decide,” said Kwikiriza.

Currently, there are 5,200 teachers in vocational schools across the country and 2,026 have completed specialized training in different disciplines.

Posted on : 01 Apr,2019