English, featured, Ibikorwa|March 5, 2013 10:27 am

JAAR members urged to take on broad skills transfer

JICA Senior Representative Moriya TAKAHIRO at the meeting

Members of JICA Alumni Association in Rwanda (JAAR), a union that brings together former participants in trainings supported by JICA were have been called on to share knowledge and skills acquired at their respective work stations.

The call was made by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Education Sharon Haba while officially opening an experience sharing session by Rwandans who benefited from JICA’s training program in 2012-2013.

Presentations made focused on the best practices observed in countries like Japan, Kenya, Malaysia and Indonesia, Rwandans can adopt to improve the situation in Education, ICT and Agriculture.

In her address, Haba was grateful for the tremendous support by the Japanese government stressing that it touches the core development of the country, giving reference to the EDPRS II which involves skills development.

She also remarked that training goes beyond what Japan has to offer and advised ex-participants to use such skills brought closer in adding value to their respective work stations.

Reflecting on prior experience, JICA’s Senior representative Moriya TAKAHIRO said that Education is one of the most powerful measures to fight poverty. He emphasized JICA’s commitment to support Rwanda’s skills development program.

JICA has trained about 558 Rwandans since 1997 in various fields which include Management for vocational training institutions, Science Mathematics, Problem Resolution Development through ICT, IP network development, Web Application Development, Practical Technology for Mechatronics and Robots, Digital Video production, among other developmental sectors relevant to Rwanda’s vision 2020.

Anicet Rwama, the chair man of JAAR invited all ex-participants to join hands in setting up a harmonized system that will ease implementation of their action plans, based on different skills acquired.

One ex-participant Dieudonne Kayihura Manago who trained in IP Network Development expressed optmism in scaling up through forming associations made up of several former participants owning different skills.

While officially closing this session, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and ICT Rosemary Mbabazi also called upon ex-participants to transform JAAR into an icon that supports ICT which is regarded as a cross cutting field.