Private sector, WDA sign skills training deal

The Workforce Development Authority (WDA) and the Private Sector Federation have signed a cooperation agreement for skills development.Under the deal, the private sector will help avail opportunities for internship to trainees from technical schools to help them get experience.The sector will also help WDA draw up a curriculum.Speaking after the signing, Yvette Mukarwema, PSF’s Chief Operation Officer, said the pact would benefit both WDA and the private sector.“This is a good deal because the private sector is going to be collaborating with the technical training” she said, adding that it will also help organise the Annual TVET Expo.WDA Director General, Jerome Gasana, said the signing is an opportunity for WDA to implement what they teach in various schools.He explained the agreement was part of strengthening and enhancing cooperation between the two institutions since several deals have been reached before.“These are practical people who I believe know what the market wants because they are on the ground and they have the experience, so by bringing them on board, it’s going to help us a lot”Haji Abdu Karemera, a carpenter and president of ADARWA Cooperative in Gasabo, said the deal was long overdue.“For sure, we have the skills, but we have been lacking exposure” he said, adding that he had been lucky to visit Germany on a study tour courtesy of PSF, and he believes that the signing is going to benefit many people.Since WDA is going to provide us trainers, Karemera said that on their part they are to get more skills which will help them improve on the quality of their products. He said with proper equipment, Rwanda can produce the best furniture in the region.“When I visited German, I saw their timber, which is no better than ours. Actually they have one type and we have a variety here. So the bottom line is that the signing is going to improve our quality and I thank WDA for thinking about us.”

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Private sector, WDA sign skills training deal