The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has announced that it is carrying out a survey to determine the demands of the labour market, which will then inform our universities what kind of skills to impart to students.

The move, which comes after several public appeals, cannot come at a better time. This country is on the path to establishing itself as a knowledge-based economy, and this can never be realized without a workforce that responds to the needs of the industry.

There is no doubt that the country has registered tremendous progress in the education system. The number of Rwandans who have graduated over the last 16 years, is by far more than those who graduated in a period spanning 30 years before the 1994 Genocide. That is telling and demonstrates the Government’s commitment to build an economy that’s largely based on human capital.

However, it’s one thing to have a big number of graduates, and it’s another to have a relevant and competitive workforce.

It’s important that this country gets a strong and dynamic labour market data base that can regularly provide statistics on labour market trends, both in Rwanda and in the region.

This study will not only benefit tertiary institutions, but also the lower levels of education, as well as employers.

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