Students wishing to pursue the Bachelors degree in Technology at the university level will soon have the faculty readily available at IPRC Kigali and IPRC Huye. This was announced by Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente during the National Umushyikirano Council that kicked off on Monday, February 27, bringing together senior government officials, civil society and members of the public to discuss matters of national concern. ALSO READ: Road to 2024: Will TVET enrollment targets be achieved? “In line with career path development for students in TVETs transitioning to tertiary education, the faculty for Bachelors of Technology will be introduced by March 2023 in IPR Kigali and Huye,” he said. He added that this will be extended to other IPRCs (Integrated Polytechnic Regional College) by September 2023, and even introduce post graduate degree in Masters of Technology. Ngirente also noted that there are plans to reinforce the partnership between schools and the government as well as the private sector to facilitate students in industrial attachment. ALSO READ: Govt injects Rwf5 billion in TVET schools subsidies To spur job creation, the government targets to enroll 60 percent of Nine Years Basic Education graduates into TVET schools by 2024. The idea is that they graduate with enough skills that can be turned into entrepreneurship ventures. However, according to Rwanda TVET Board’s recent figures in 2022, the enrollment rate is at 31.9 percent which is far from the set target. To achieve this, the government intends to build more TVET classrooms with a target of at least one school in every sector of 416 sectors across the country. So far, 282 sectors have a TVET school and the Premier said that 90 schools are currently being built in the remaining 114 sectors. This is also complemented with 81 TVET wings –classes that the government is putting in place at all 12-year basic education schools where those done with senior three can immediately proceed with vocational training –already built. It seeks to set up at least 56 of them in secondary school premises every fiscal year across the country. Rwanda identified high-priority sectors with potential for employment creation to meet 1.5 million jobs target by 2024, which requires a labour force with most of TVET skills. These include agro-processing, Horticulture, Manufacturing, value addition to minerals, construction, tourism and transport as well knowledge-based services and creative art among others.
