MPs discuss strategies to promote skills

A new approach to change the perception of people about Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is needed to increase enrollment, legislators have said.Appearing before the Standing Committee on Education, Technology, Culture and Youth to respond to questions about government’s ambitious TVET policy, yesterday, Albert Nsengiyumva, the State minister for TVET, said many Rwandans still regard technical training and vocational as demeaning, a career for the poor, and a last resort occupation.The minister said such a perception continues despite the fact that TVET has proven merits wherever it has been embraced.Few of the lawmakers this paper talked to, have their own children studying in TVET schools and this, they admitted, is part of the perception problem that must be dealt with if the enrolment is to increase.Nsengiyumva said: “We need to sensitise the youth to embrace TVET and we need your help. We need to change the mindset of many people who think that TVET is for those who failed in conventional education system. This kind of thinking is a big problem.”When this paper put the question to MP Athanasie Gahondogo, a member of the committee, she admitted that none of her children is in a TVET school. The same applies to all the six committee members who were in the meeting yesterday.“This is a question we could all ask ourselves. How many of us have children in TVET? I don’t want to answer that but we should think about it. We are still way behind and I don’t know how many families in Rwanda would welcome the thought of their children going to vocational schools,” Gahondogo said.MPs Fortunée Nyiramadirida and Vénéranda Nyirahirwa, the Deputy Chairperson of the committee, pressed the minister on what is being done to increase TVET enrollment, noting that Rwandan parents have a role to play.Nsengiyumva responded that it requires everyone’s cooperation, but note that parents’ mindset must first be changed.“We must also highlight the examples of the benefits of those who have gone through TVET so that these success stories inspire others.”MP Christine Muhongayire suggested that Parliament should convene a major conference aimed at sensitising the population about the importance of TVET.“The mindset issue will not be addressed overnight. It will be a process and this is why I was thinking of what we could do to change our mindset and that of Rwandans in general.”The government continues to prioritise TVET and it has a Rwf30.5 billion budget allocation in the current budget. The TVET approach saw an increase of 15 per cent in its student enrollment this year.Nsengiyumva reiterated government’s belief that once fully embraced TVET would address the skills challenge which causes the country to lose out on investment opportunities as big investors prefer establishing major projects in countries with a vast mass of skilled labour, among other things.The government targets to have at least 10, 000 students enroll in vocational and technical schools, every year.The target is to have at least 60 per cent of students’ population in TVET and 40 per cent in mainstream education, in the next five years.The government has rallied support of European and Asian countries, including Switzerland, Germany, China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore that have vast TVET experience.The Swiss are currently collaborating with Rwanda to build five TVET schools in Western Province. The construction of seven other schools is expected to start next year with support from the World Bank Group. The Germans will also help build at least five others in the near future.

National

MPs discuss strategies to promote skills