WDA, dev’t partners to harmonise TVET policies

In a bid to promote the efficiency of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Rwanda, the Workforce Development Authority (WDA) and Belgian development partners are discussing ways of harmonising policies towards promoting TVET. The two-day meeting that ended Friday at La Palise, Nyandungu, was aimed at reviewing WDA Strategic and Action Plans and to find ways of how development partners can reposition themselves in those strategies. Presenting to development partners the various reforms which the authority has embarked on, WDA Director General, Albert Nsengiyumva, said that there is a need for all stakeholders to work closely in the development of TVET in Rwanda. “Through integrated technical and vocational education training, the manpower problem shall not only be Resolved, but the dropout issue will be addressed and many unemployed people will be equipped with technical skills needed in the labour market,” he said. Nsegiyumva added that the goal of this program is to enhance employment opportunities through the development of entrepreneurship skills, creativity and hands-on training. He noted that intervention of development partners is very vital towards harmonising TVET policies and this (intervention) lays a strong foundation for an integrated system in Rwanda. Speaking to The Sunday Times, Gerrit Stassyns, the program manager for one of the development partners, VVOB Rwanda (Flemish association for development cooperation and technical assistance), said that technical education creates employment opportunities in the country. “Countries with a strong middle-class who went through technical and vocational training schools, are very prosperous,” Stassyns said. “Our aim is to contribute to capacity building by training of trainers and managers to spearhead TVET implementation in the country”. The Belgian development partners include Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC) and APEFE Rwanda. Ends