English, Ibikorwa|March 10, 2013 6:23 am

TVET schools urged to join strategies

Principals of Integrated Polytechnic Regional Colleges (IPRCs) and other administrators have been called upon to consolidate their activities in further making trainings relevant to local needs.

The call was made by the new State Minister in charge of TVET Albert Nsengiyumva while addressing Heads of TVET schools in an introduction meeting upon his recent appointment.

Present also in this meeting was the Minister of Education Dr. Vincent Biruta who said that TVET schools need to partner with local authorities in identifying people to benefit from owned resources for skills development.

In a brainstorming session on how current challenges facing the TVET policy can be addressed, existing gaps that need to be addressed at administrative and training levels were identified, sighting roles of each stakeholder.

With limited resources, Minister Nsengiyumva told heads of TVET schools to identify potential sectors that will speed up the fight against poverty in the entire Rwandan population, basing on existing local needs where each school is located.

The Ministry of Education through WDA has established 5 IPRCs in all provinces and Kigali City, which are expected to coordinate the implementation of TVET through the existing Levels (VTC, TSS and Polytechnic).

Priority sectors like ICT, Hospitality and Tourism, Film industry, Mining, renewable energy, construction and others have been incorporated in TVET so as to cover the existing skills gap and meeting labour market demands.