OFFICIALS from the Workforce Development Authority (WDA) have set aside over Rwf7 billion to construct three upgraded Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in three districts by June.

Jerome Gasana, the WDA director-general, said the centres will be constructed in Nyabihu in Western Province, Rulindo in Northern Province, and Muhanga in Southern Province.

The aim is to have at least three TVET schools in each district by 2018.

Gasana is optimistic that the target will be achieved as they currently stand at over 85 per cent completion stage.

Under the arrangement, 200,000 off-farm jobs are expected to be created annually, a result anticipated to help cut unemployment rate that is currently at 13.5 per cent among college graduates in the country.

The overall target for the government is to have 60 per cent of students enrolling for TVET by 2018, while the remaining 40 per will proceed with classic education.

Gasana said, for this to be achieved, WDA has to ensure that more TVET schools are constructed to enroll more students.

"We are targeting big schools that can accommodate more students in various levels. We can teach students in medium, secondary and polytechnic levels depending on available materials and human resources,” said Gasana.

He said each TVET centre will offer courses that are practical and beneficial to the area in question.

For example, in Nyabihu District, Gasana said one of the subjects will be stone carving, thanks to the presence of rocks in the area as a result of volcanic eruptions that occurred thousands of years ago in the neighbouring Volcanoes National Park.

Other subjects will be agriculture and soil studies among others.

‘An opportunity in the offing’

Aimable Niyonsenga, who completed Senior Six three years ago in Rulindo District, welcomed the new school, saying he has remained jobless since he completed secondary education and he would enroll as soon as possible.

"We have some TVET schools but I have not yet enrolled as I expected to get a job. However, I am ready to enroll this year and start acquiring hands on skills with a hope of creating my own job,” said Niyonsenga.

Prosper Mulindwa, the Rulindo vice mayor in charge of finance and economic affairs, said while the district has other public and private TVET schools, they expect to get a mining TVET in June.

"The mining school will help the local population, especially the youth, to acquire hands-on skills and do the job professionally unlike currently where the task is carried out by hired people from other countries and our locals earn peanuts yet they use more energy,” he said.

The school is based in Masoro Sector which is a mining zone, according to Mulindwa.

He said, currently, more than 300 young people who were trained and given tool kits are venturing into agribusiness and agro processing, welding, tailoring, construction carpentry and plumbing among other professions, hence boosting their lives and communities in general.

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