Rwanda's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Board has signed an agreement with 35 private schools to improve TVET education in the country.

The move is aimed at increasing the number of students enrolled in TVET from the current 37% to 60% next academic year.

To achieve this, winners of ordinary level exams will be deployed to private TVET schools and the government will subsidize their costs. Private schools will be facilitated with teachers, consumables, building expansions, and caption grants.

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Although there was a slight increase in TVET enrollment from 31% to 37% this academic year, the target of having 45% of students enrolled in TVET schools was not met due to a poor mindset toward TVET, a lack of TVET schools in many parts of the country, and high costs associated with private TVET schools.

The head of Training Management Department in RTB, Solange Uwamahoro, emphasized the need for students and parents to change their mindset about TVET, highlighting that it can help address the issue of unemployment.

"The public TVET schools are still few and therefore we want to have government-aided private TVET schools to help us increase the uptake from 37 per cent this academic year to 60 per cent next academic year. This means that winners of ordinary level exams have to be deployed to these schools and the government subsidizes the cost incurred on students,” she said.

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John Fan, the Principal of Forever TVET Institute, one of the government-aided private TVET schools by Chinese investors, expressed confidence in the partnership with the government, citing that it would increase the number of students seeking to study heavy machines operation and maintenance, land surveying, computer, electricity, road construction, and automobile technology.

"We have trained more than 1,000 graduates, improving the employability of youth. Recently we graduated 240 students and by working with the government the number can increase,” he said.

The school is also working with construction companies to promote the development of talent in learning, practicing, and employment in Rwanda.

Meanwhile Valentine Uwamariya, the Minister for Education told MPs recently that the government is planning to construct TVET wings along secondary schools and new TVET schools.

At least 81 new TVET wings or classrooms have been constructed at existing schools, which previously taught general education, while seven new TVET schools have been built.

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The government also aims to have at least one TVET school in every sector and is currently constructing 90 TVET wings.