President Paul Kagame, yesterday, launched the Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC) – a vocational and technical skills training center in Kigali.

This initiative will, not only go a long way in offering those enrolled a recognized career path, but will also add a prospective skills boost, to the economy.

The development will massively contribute to the fast-tracking and implementation of the integrated Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system, which aims at creating a critical mass of a hands-on workforce equipped with the necessary entrepreneurial and employable skills that are critical for the realization of the country’s development agenda.

There is no doubt that employers place a high premium on hands-on training, and since that is what vocational skills offers, upon completion, the center’s graduates will have an edge in their chosen careers, as well as working knowledge prior to entering the work environment. Consequently, they will be the preferred human capital in their respective fields.

While the mainstream university programmes, remain vital, there is no guarantee that all graduates will find employment. But with practical technical skills the graduates will be in a better position to create jobs.

The vocational training programme has, so far, received a lot of support, however, financial institutions too, need to step in and offer credit facilities to help those who have graduated, start –up businesses in line with their skills.

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