Seventeen vocational training centres across the country shared between themselves a grant of Rwf600 million under the Skills Development Fund.The centres were selected from the 171 that participated in a competition that involved submission of proposals to develop their respective centres. The proposals were for various fields, including carpentry, masonry, handicraft and art. The State Minister for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Albert Nsengiyumva, told the beneficiaries that the money should help them increase the number of students who enrol in their schools and increase the quality of education offered. Nsengiyumva said the money is given to schools as a grant, but government has to pay it by showcasing the impact they made on performance and the good quality of education the schools offer.The project is financed by the World Bank through the Workforce Development Authority."This is the first round to benefit and it is subsequent to the evaluation of how you used the funds that we will determine the effectiveness of this project,” said Nsengiyumva.The minister reminded the beneficiaries that they have to do their best so that these funds can generate more income. To achieve self-reliance, he said, beneficiaries should ensure optimal use of the grant.Hope raised The Director-General of WDA, Gerome Gasana, said there is hope that the grant will deliver positive results."Employers now take up students after three months at school because they appreciate their performance and this is very helpful as such students no longer have difficulties in paying fees,” he said.Samson Muragijimana, the head teacher of Ntendezi VTC in Nyamasheke district,  said the grant would help the school procure more professional tools which will not only upgrade the quality of education they offer, but also increase the number of trainees.  "We are going to set up a new carpentry workshop with professional equipment,” Muragijimana said.His school received Rwf24m. The second round of beneficiaries is expected to be announced in early May.The five-year Skills Development Project is worth $34m (Rwf21b)  co-funded by the World Bank and the government of Rwanda.