The 28-year old cooperation between Rwanda and the German Federal State of Rhineland Palatinate, has now been extended to cover Rwanda’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes.

TVET has recently emerged as a top priority for Rwanda’s education system with the government establishing an autonomous regulatory body – the Workforce Development Authority (WDA) – to spearhead reforms aimed at making technical and vocational programmes a vehicle towards a knowledge-based economy.

Rhineland Palatinate’s support is expected to come in the area of Training of Trainers (TOT), with one of the proposals being the establishment of a national TOT centre. One of WDA’s roles is to provide qualified TVET trainers in as many occupational fields.

The German Federal state has already sent two experts – Dr Hans-Jurgen Berg of the Ministry of Education, University, Youth and Culture, and Helmut Becker, TOT manager – to conduct a field tour and, thereafter, present a report upon which a final decision will be taken

The report will be presented in a high-level meeting of Rwandan-Rhineland Palatinate joint commission, scheduled to take place next month in Mainz, Germany.

Earlier this week, WDA management, led by the Director General, Albert Nsengiyumva, met with the Coordinator of the Rwanda-Rhineland Palatinate Cooperation, Niedon Michael and the two German experts (Dr Hans-Jurgen and Helmut), to jointly explore potential areas of mutual cooperation.

"Having qualified teachers is a pillar for a quality and demand-led TVET system, and we are looking forward to working with our German friends and anyone else to ensure that our TVET system has a pool of qualified trainers,” observed Nsengiyumva.  

Following the meeting, the German team kicked off their one-week field tour, starting with the Kicukiro-based Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC) Kigali – one of the proposed five TVET centres of excellence nationwide.

Since the adoption of the national TVET policy and the establishment of WDA, a number of development partners have expressed interest in supporting TVET programmes, with the Government pushing for a more harmonized intervention by the various development agencies.

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