The Japanese government, through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has promised to step up its support to ensure Tumba College of Technology (TCT), to help the institution produce competent graduates for the labour market.

The Chief Advisor JICA-TCT project, Ryuichi Nishiyama, said that the agency would provide more essential equipment to enable students to put into practice information communication technology skills.

"We are also bringing in experts from various countries including India to handle the about 60 percent of the practical lessons offered at the school,” he said.

Nishiyama said this Wednesday, during the fourth TCT stakeholders’ meeting that took place in Kigali.

The annual meet aims at consulting stakeholders on the required labour force to ensure that the college produces highly competitive graduates, according to the principle, Eng. Pascal Gatabazi.

He said that the meetings have significantly benefited the college in establishing a curriculum that rhymes with the market demands.

"The curriculum we started with, is not the one we have today, as it has been changing with advancement in technology, and stakeholder’s inputs have played a great role in coming to this level,” Gatabazi said.

He called upon graduates to effectively utilise their skills by not only being job seekers, but creators of employment opportunities as well.

According to a survey conducted by the college, about 70 percent of the college’s graduates have been employed, citing a few examples of those who had successfully started their own businesses.

Speaking to the media, one of the graduates and Managing Director of Zinc Computers Ltd, Marcel Mutsindashyaka, said that employers had valued his work, a situation that motivated him to start his own firm.

"I realised that my skills can benefit me even more if I initiated a project or company that would also employ others,” he said. 

Ends