Rwanda TVET Board (RTB) has raised concerns over the high cost of electricity, which is posing a significant challenge to Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools.

The schools heavily rely on electrically-powered machinery for practical courses, resulting in substantial daily consumption of electricity and high bills.

As a result, RTB has requested that the government reduce power tariffs for TVET schools to ease the financial burden.

During a recent plenary sitting of the Chamber of Deputies' (lower chamber) Committee on Education, Technology, Culture and Youth, officials addressed issues that were identified during a recent field visit to schools across the country.

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Paul Umukunzi, Director-General of RTB, said TVET schools receive high electricity bills because the machines that consume the power are a necessity in courses.

"Eight trades in TVET schools are delivered depending on the availability of electricity, and so the cost of consumable electricity is still a challenge. We would like to request that the tariffs be reviewed to improve the quality of education offered here and help bridge the country’s skill gap,” he said.

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The reduction of electricity tariffs will contribute to strengthening technical and vocational education and training schools as electricity is a major need in most of the practical courses on a daily basis.

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The Minister of Education Valentine Uwamariya explained to Members of Parliament the ministry’s plan to help schools overcome water and power electricity debts.

"As a short response, we have planned to support schools by paying water bill debt. But for a long-term strategic plan, we are waiting for the cabinet to decide because we have already requested for the water and power tariffs for schools to be reviewed as these schools offer services for the development growth of the country.”

Pierre Celestin Kayitare Nyamirama, a TVET school headmaster, told The New Times that high consumption of power affects the teaching and learning of practical courses.

"We have five trades that cannot be taught without electricity, and some of them use high-power consumable machines like welding, carpentry, plumbing, and others. The electricity bill is the main challenge in TVET schools, so reviewing tariffs would be better,” he said.

Kayitare said the school power consumption per month is mostly between 2500 and 2600KwH which costs them over Rwf 500,000.

Committee member, Christine Muhongayire, requested Rwanda TVET Board to develop a strategic plan on how they want the government to support TVET schools, and indicate their consumption as well.