The Workforce Development Authority (WDA) and experts from China Railway Engineering Company, on Friday, signed a design contract for the construction of a model Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) school in Musanze District, Northern Province. 

The Chinese funded project, which will cost US$11 million, will be constructed on a 4.8 hectare piece of land.

A Chinese delegation of seven, including architects, was recently in Rwanda to present a preliminary design of the ultra-modern school, a design they shared with WDA.

The two sides also signed a design contract that paves way for the next phase of the construction process.

The site located in Barizo village will have modern structures designed to offer training in three areas; construction and building services (plumbing &welding), agriculture and food processing ( agro-business especially in bamboo, meat and fruit processing), ICT and electronics.

According to WDA’s director in charge of partnerships, Didier Munezero, the school will expand its programs depending on identified requirements of the surrounding environment.

The school will have a capacity of 1,100 students.

Jerome Gasana, the Director General of WDA, said that by October 2011, another group would carry out a geological survey on the construction site.

The school is expected to be operational by January 2013.

"The major objective is to make the school serve as a TVET role model, benefit many people, especially in the north, with enough equipment to support the hotel and tourism industry plus other recreational facilities,” said Gasana

According to the vice president of the China Railway Engineering Company, Chen Zhiqiang, after the approval of the design contract, he promised to work within the given timeframe as requested by WDA.

"Through hard work, our aim is to see all ideas within our agreement reinforced to have the whole work done as expected by both parties,” stressed Zhiqiang.

He further expressed their wish to see the school help in promoting technical education, especially in the Northern Province.

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