Four Rwandans have won a ticket to compete in the WorldSkills Africa – a continental competition for innovative youth talent—slated for next year.
The youth who are currently enrolled on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes were selected from the national skills competition which concluded on October 7.
They are Janvier Nizeyimana who is skilled in welding, Elie Niyigena in plumbing and heating, David Irimaso in electrical installations as well as André Ndayishimiye in bricklaying.
They were each awarded Rwf500,000 and a gold medal for progressing to the next level.
The competition will take place in Swakopmund, Namibia from March 28 to April 2, 2022.
James Gashumba, Vice-Chancellor of Rwanda Polytechnic, said that the National Skills Competition will be an annual event and they are going to resume the process of formation of the National Skills Association.
He said it will be established in partnership with Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and Private Sector Federation (PSF).
Gashumba disclosed that going forward they target to attract students who are keen on gaining TVET skills and demystify the widely held misconception that TVET is for students who failed national exams.
"In TVET, we put more premium in skills acquisition but not ignoring the fundamental knowledge and soft skills that make a way rounded skilled labour force that we desperately want for a knowledge-based economy,” he added.
Esther Ishimwe, student at IPRC Karongi who represented other competitors said the competition added value to the TVET’s inter-fraternity and she challenged her colleagues to continue pursuing excellence and push boundaries to become masters in their fields.
Pascal Gatabazi, Chief Technical Advisor in the Ministry of Education, said that this national competition has provided an opportunity to showcase and celebrate skills excellency among youth in Rwanda.
Adding that the government is convinced that the expansion and resourcing of the TVET sector is a critical priority for skills intensification.
Those who will become winners in the continental competition will head for the 46th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China in October 2022.