Top managers of Rwanda’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system are attending a planning workshop during which they are expected to come up with a revised strategic and activity plan for the next five years.

The one-week workshop at WDA head office in Remera, Kigali, is facilitated by two Singaporean experts, Bruno Lee and Chong Fook Yen, under the framework of an agreement signed between WDA and Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE) on September 16, 2009.

"This workshop is aimed at facilitating the process of reviewing WDA Strategic and Action Plan for 2008 – 2012 based on progress achieved in 2009 and strategic goals identified for 2010,” Bruno said.

Under the agreement, SCE will help WDA in governance and management know-how; development of viable TVET systems and processes; and training of trainers and managers to spearhead TVET implementation
The workshop is the first official step towards the implementation of the WDA-SCE agreement and it is hoped that it will lay a strong foundation for an integrated TVET system in Rwanda.

According to WDA Director General, Dr Jean Damascene Gatabazi, the session will help WDA team internalize and own the challenges that lie ahead as the nation moves to transform one of the previously undermined sectors.

"Poor planning is evident across the entire public sector and yet it is the key pillar for any future success. This is the time for TVET managers to have a common understanding of what our mission is and the strategies to get there,” Dr Gatabazi noted.

Unlike the former dead-ended system, under TVET, a student will be able to upgrade from a vocational and technical school to university level as the system provides multiple entry and exit points.

It also provides a window of opportunity to university graduates to join a TVET centre to acquire practical hands-on skills.

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