Rwanda’s enrolment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has risen to 40.5 per cent, as the government steps up efforts to reach a target of at least 60 per cent under the second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2). The rise comes as Rwandans joined the rest of the world in marking World Teachers’ Day on October 5, highlighting the central role teachers play in preparing young people with skills needed for a rapidly changing labour market. This year’s World Teachers’ Day theme is “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures.” ALSO READ: Where girls stand in TVET education The theme comes at a time when the government is seeking not only to increase TVET enrolment, but also to strengthen the quality of technical education through teacher capacity building, modern training equipment and the integration of emerging technologies. According to the Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), TVET enrolment reached 40.5 per cent in the 2025/26 school year, up from 31 per cent in 2020/21. The government sees technical and vocational education as an important part of its ambition to build a skilled workforce and transition towards a knowledge-based economy under Vision 2050. Paul Umukunzi, Director General of RTB, told The New Times that enrolment has increased steadily in recent years, although it remains below the government’s 60 per cent target. “The Government of Rwanda is putting in a lot of effort to meet this target, but with a stronger focus on quality improvement to continue aligning the current TVET offer with the current state of technology,” he said. Umukunzi said achieving this will require continuous investment in emerging technologies as well as strengthening the capacity of teachers so that training keeps pace with technological changes and the evolving needs of employers. Here are five things to know about the state of TVET education in Rwanda. 1. Which TVET programmes are attracting the most students? Some TVET programmes continue to attract significantly more students than others. Umukunzi said programmes with the highest enrolment include Hospitality and Tourism, Food and Beverage Operations, ICT-related programmes, Building Construction, Automobile Technology and Multimedia Production. Manufacturing Technology and Fashion Design, on the other hand, are among the programmes attracting fewer students. According to Umukunzi, students are generally drawn to programmes they believe offer stronger employment prospects and better earning potential. ALSO READ: Rwf 26bn project to boost girls’ participation in TVET “Students choose some of these programmes because they offer a wide range of employment opportunities and are better-paying compared to the rest,” he said. 2. What is the dropout rate? Despite challenges affecting access to technical education, RTB says the TVET dropout rate remains below 8 per cent. Umukunzi identified the distance between students’ homes and TVET schools as one of the factors contributing to dropout. Unlike general education schools, TVET institutions are fewer in number, meaning some students have to travel long distances to access technical training. “TVET schools are not as many as other schools, which makes it difficult for students to walk long distances to access technical education,” he said. Another factor is that some students leave school before completing their programmes after acquiring practical skills that allow them to enter the labour market. While early entry into employment can provide students with income, it can also prevent them from completing the full training cycle and acquiring all the competencies required in their respective trades. 3. How are TVET graduates performing in the labour market? RTB figures indicate that a significant share of TVET graduates transition into employment or self-employment. Umukunzi said the overall employment rate among TVET graduates stands at 71.5 per cent, while 75.2 per cent secure employment within six months of graduation. Graduates from Dual TVET programmes, which combine classroom instruction with workplace-based training, record an employment rate of 82 per cent. RTB also says 24 per cent of TVET graduates are self-employed. The figures point to the role of technical and vocational education in preparing young people not only for salaried employment but also for entrepreneurship and self-employment. 4. What is holding back faster TVET enrolment? Despite the growth in enrolment, several challenges continue to limit the pace at which TVET can expand. Umukunzi said the cost of technical education remains one of the biggest challenges because institutions require specialised equipment, workshops and infrastructure that must be continuously upgraded as technology changes. “Technical education is expensive. Technology changes so fast, and the requirement for integration of new emerging technologies makes TVET very expensive,” he said. Parents’ perceptions of TVET also remain a challenge. According to Umukunzi, some parents still discourage their children from pursuing technical education because of long-standing perceptions about the status and career prospects of TVET compared with other education pathways. The shortage of modern training equipment and infrastructure in some institutions also continues to affect the sector. 5. What is RTB doing to make TVET more attractive? RTB says it is intensifying awareness campaigns targeting both parents and young people to change perceptions about technical education and highlight the employment and entrepreneurship opportunities it offers. The Board is also investing in modern training facilities, including Centres of Excellence, as part of efforts to improve the quality and relevance of training. The inauguration on September 23 of new and rehabilitated infrastructure at six TVET schools was among investments aimed at improving the learning environment and ensuring students have access to facilities and equipment that reflect the needs of the modern labour market. Teacher development is also becoming increasingly important as new technologies are introduced into technical education. Umukunzi said instructors need continuous capacity building to ensure they remain familiar with technological advances and can effectively transfer relevant skills to students. As Rwanda works towards its 60 per cent TVET enrolment target under NST2, RTB says the emphasis will not only be on increasing student numbers, but also on ensuring that the quality of training keeps pace with the demands of the labour market. The challenge, officials say, is to expand access while ensuring that teachers, training facilities and curricula evolve fast enough to prepare graduates for a labour market increasingly shaped by technology.
