Education ministry to prioritise career guidance

The Ministry of Education (Mineduc) is working on a plan to introduce career guidance programme in all schools to enable students make informed decisions when choosing university courses. This was announced during a Joint Review of Education Sector meeting in Kigali yesterday. The meeting brought together education officials and partners to take stock of last year’s achievements and highlight planned activities for 2014/2015 financial year. “When you ask any student what they would like to become, they most likely tell you they want to be teachers, soldiers or doctors,” said Sharon Haba, the ministry permanent secretary, adding that career guidance is one of their priorities this financial year. Prof. George K. Njoroge, the principal of the College of Education of the University of Rwanda, said they have finalised plans to launch a post graduate programme in career guidance and counselling. “The University of Rwanda has approved the project. Hopefully, the High Education Council will endorse it soon, and we will be able to start next year,” he said. “Since our college trains teachers, career guidance will be effective once included in the course units,” Prof. Njoroge added. Teachers trained Meanwhile, Education minister Vincent Biruta said teachers in 80 schools across the country have trained in career guidance. A part from the post graduate programme, Njoroge said his College is also working on another project for diploma in this domain. Hugh Delaney, in charge of education in the United Nations International Children’s Education Fund (Nuicef), which is an important partner of the ministry welcomed the move. “We have an impression that students here do not know to make good university choices. It’s a responsibility of the ministry to provide such guidance.” A part from the career guidance programme, the ministry outlined 10 other priority activities this year, including increasing access to basic education, quality education and increasing Technical and Vocational Education and Training enrolment. The ministry has a budget of more than Rwf200 billion in the 2014/15 financial year.

National

Education ministry to prioritise career guidance