Vocational training programmes need to provide young Rwandans with marketable skills to solve the issue of underemployment, according to a delegation of Germans.A delegation from the German region of Rhineland-Palatinate met with the Workforce Development Authority (WDA) to discuss skills’ development in Rwanda at a meeting held at Hotel Golden Hills yesterday."Unemployment is not the issue in Rwanda because everyone is doing something, it’s underemployment that’s the crucial problem,” said Petra Muller-Glodde, the head of promotion of economy and employment programme (Deutsche Gesellschaft).Underemployment refers to being employed only part-time when one needs full-time employment, work that is not making full use of the worker’s skills or employing workers that are not fully occupied."Market-oriented skills training in schools and companies is crucial for success,” Muller-Glodde said.On October 16, Rwanda and Germany signed three financing agreements worth Rwf15 billion to support Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).The TVET programme aims to increase the number of working adults by providing a national framework for vocational training.Dr Roland Strohmeyer, the project manager for the German Chamber of Skilled Crafts,–that is partnering with TVETs in Rwanda–said their programme will help integrate practical experiences into the training curricula in Rwanda, which is important for the employability of young people.” They plan to introduce pilot projects within certain schools that will train several hundred students in ten professions – the professions will be selected later based on sectors that need skilled workers."Rwanda is focusing on shifting professional training more towards technical professions. We have a similar discussion in Germany, and I think for the development of the country it’s certainly a good thing to do,” Dr Strohmeyer said.The program will help fill the gaps that exist in almost all fields due to a lack of vocational training, according to Ephrem Musonera, the vice principal for academics and training and Intergrated Polytechnic Regional Centre in Eastern Province."How can you employ somebody who is not skilled? This programme will help create more jobs and empower Rwandans with professional skills,” Musonera said.