Rwanda -Since 2017, Rwanda’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Board has been a beacon of hope for the nation’s youth. With an impressive 84% employment rate within the first nine months post-graduation from short vocational courses, the initiative stands as a testament to the power of targeted skills development.
The Skills Development Fund (SDF) project, managed by the Skills Development Program Manager Eugene Uwimana, has been instrumental in this achievement. Uwimana highlights the program’s focus on courses designed to meet market demands, ensuring that trainees are equipped to either secure employment or create jobs. “We focus on courses that simply facilitate our trainees to create jobs and or get job opportunities as per market demand,” Uwimana emphasizes.
The statistics speak volumes: approximately 23,300 youths have graduated from these short courses since the program’s inception. This substantial number of skilled individuals entering the workforce is a significant step towards reducing unemployment rates and fostering economic growth. Yet, the challenge remains vast. A 2022 survey by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) revealed that 39.5% of the youth are neither in employment, education, nor training (NEET). This issue is more pronounced in the Western Province, where the rate climbs to 42.6%, followed closely by the Southern Province at 42.2%.
To address this, the RTB has launched another ambitious initiative targeting NEET youth. In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the program aims to provide short vocational courses to 1,300 young individuals aged 16 to 30. The goal is clear: to offer practical skills that can swiftly translate into employment or entrepreneurial opportunities.
The impact of these vocational courses is evident in the lives of trainees like Dorothea Mukankundiye. At 24, Mukankundiye is enrolled in a six-month course on food and beverage operations in Rubavu District. Her enthusiasm is palpable as she shares her experience. “If these vocational courses were available to more young people, fewer and fewer of them would be engaged in drug abuse, or even be affected by unwanted pregnancies,” she notes, highlighting the broader social benefits of accessible vocational training.
Straton Nshimyumuremyi, the Managing Director of Centre d’Accueil Saint François Xavier in Rubavu, where Mukankundiye is training, underscores the importance of such programs. “It was a very important opportunity for her to network with numerous people, and short courses make the foundation of young people for a better future,” he says. Nshimyumuremyi’s observation points to the dual advantage of vocational training: it provides essential skills and serves as a vital networking platform for trainees and potential employers.
Echoing this sentiment, Augustin Mushakamba, responsible for TVET schools in Rubavu District, asserts, “Vocational training has proved useful in the reduction of the unemployment burden on the government because youth get the skills to create jobs for themselves as well as others.” His statement highlights the ripple effect of vocational training on the broader economy.
The TVET Board is actively working with development partners to expand their programs. Uwimana reveals plans for a new initiative similar to the SDF, aimed at training even more youth. The ongoing commitment to vocational education reflects a strategic approach to harnessing the potential of Rwanda’s young population.
