TVET graduates seek start-up kits

Gatsibo – Students who finished a one-year plumbing course at Ngarama Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) centre have appealed to authorities for start-up work kits. TVETs mainly train young people who did not pursue classical formal education or dropped out of school. The students made their request during a visit by district leaders at the institution. Triphonia Uwizeye, 16, one of the few girls who successfully completed the plumbing course, told The New Times that the nature of their job needed tools to begin with. She noted that most of the graduates were from humble backgrounds, practically unable to procure fundamental tool boxes. “We are so happy to have attained lifelong skills...but the work we will do is practical, and goes with some essential tools that we don’t have. We need a hand to join the labour market,” she said. “The skills we have will help us live a meaningful life...but we need capital to begin with. There are spanners specifically designated for our job, they are bought with cash that we don’t have,” said Christopher Cyubahiro, another student. Meanwhile, teachers at the TVET requested for a pay rise to be at par with technicians working in other fields. Marie Claudine Mukarirwa, the school director, said the school also needed electricity to operate fully. She noted that vocational schools were no longer regarded as inferior, adding that TVETs had competitive advantages. “Technicians, who are the main teachers we have, are on high demand...they are paid highly even when they go on their own. They are thus right when they demand for a pay rise,” she said. stephen.newtimes@newtimes.co.rw

National

TVET graduates seek start-up kits