The ground breaking for the Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC) in Musanze District in the Northern Province is expected today.This was confirmed yesterday by the Director General of Workforce Development Authority (WDA), Jerome Gasana, who said that the ultra-modern centre will be completed at a tune of US$12 million.The construction works will be funded by the Chinese government.“One of our targets is to have at least one IRPC in each province before the end of next year. This is why we partnered with the Chinese government to put this particular centre in place,” Gasana said.Gasana said that they are in the process of buying materials for the construction of one IPRC in Eastern Province and another one in the Western Province to be completed by June next year.He added that the World Bank will finance the rehabilitation of five vocational training schools saying the refurbishment of the five schools will be finished at a tune of $15million.“More students should join vocational and technical schools because this will help them complete their studies with the requisite skills needed on the labour market, not only in the country, but regionally and internationally,” Gasana said.The Chairman of the Association of Private Technical and Vocation Schools (TEVSA), John Gasana, welcomed the initiative of strengthening the sector but lamented lack of qualified teachers.“Most teachers in the vocational and technical sector don’t have enough practical skills and I am optimistic the regional centres will ensure supply of teachers competent enough to even work in the centres,” he said.
