A Rwanda-Germany TVET conference that brought together more than 80 participants to share and exchange experiences on demand-oriented TVET, in particular on workplace learning and the involvement of private sector in TVET, has come to a close in Berlin.

It was opened on Thursday by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Celestin Ntivuguruzwa, and the Parliamentary State Secretary to the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Thomas Silberhorn.

"Rwanda has achieved a lot in the education sector, especially regarding access. But while we have access, we need to think of the quality and relevance of education, particularly in TVET. The Cabinet has approved the workplace learning policy this week and now we await its implementation. We are encouraged by best practices in TVET from other nations like Germany,” Dr. Ntivuguruzwa told the gathering.

Prior to the conference, seven companies from Rwanda and Chief Executive Officer of the Private Sector Federation, Stephen Ruzibiza, visited German companies and chamber-owned training institutions on-site. 

In his opening speech, Thomas Silberhorn, explained that there were some core factors to be taken into consideration in the development of a demand-oriented TVET system such as workplace based learning,  close cooperation between the public and private sector and institutionalized research.