The Private Sector Federation (PSF) has come in to defend Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools, following the public’s misconceived mind-set towards the programme.

There is a public perception that TVET schools are a ‘one stop centre for academic failures’ and a last resort for those who fail to proceed to university.

Yvette Mukarwema, the acting Chief Executive of PSF, yesterday dismissed the insinuations saying that such misguided stereotypes are detrimental to the country’s development.

She said this during a media briefing on preparations for the first ever TVET exhibition to be held from December 8th to12th.

 The trade show to be held at the Gikondo Expo Grounds, will bring together exhibitors from Rwanda’s TVET schools, private and public entrepreneurs.

"We want first to change that mindset of people who think that TVET are a last resort and an option for people who have no other choice of school,” Mukarwema said.

She reiterated the mentality was ‘wrong and misguided’ observing that some university graduates enroll in TVET schools.

Mukarwema added that TVET graduates are professionals in technical work with the capability to create their own jobs advising them to instead be emboldened.

The Director General of the Workforce Development Authority (WDA), Jerome Gasana, said that TVET schools would showcase their unique products during the exhibition.

He added that WDA aims at promoting and facilitating the development and upgrading of skills and competencies of the national workforce to enhance employability and competitiveness.

Gasana urged the public to embrace TVET schools and gain skills that can enable them be job creators and not job seekers.

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