SDC to construct 5 VTCs in western province

Minister Albert Nsengiyumva & the SDC representative Sicvio Fluckiger signing the MoU

The Ministry of Education and WDA on Thursday signed two memoranda of understanding with the Swiss Foundation for Technical Cooperation aimed at establishing a Vocational Training Center (VTC) in each of the 5 districts that make up the western province.

According to WDA, this project will be implemented through the Swiss contact an organization of the Swiss private sector for development cooperation where construction is estimated at $2,887,500. The five districts are Karongi, Rusizi, Ngororero, Nyamasheke and Rutsiro.

While officiating at this function, the state minister in charge of TVET Albert Nsengiyumva said that this new development comes at a time the ministry is focusing on promoting productivity and youth employment especially in rural areas where the VTCs will act as a driving force.

“TVET is going to be one of the significant driver of EDPRS 2 and there is need for quality and marketable skills to achieve this goal’, said Minister Nsengiyumva.

Celestin Kabahizi the governor of the western province described this step as a privilege which will benefit not only the western province but the entire nation in addressing the existing skills gap facing the country’s labour force.

The construction of the 5 VTCs is expected to start mid June 2013, motivated by all parties to promote skills development through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

The Agreement covers the period of three years starting from December 2012 to November 2015.

Basing on Switzerland’s experience, the representative of Swiss cooperation Agency Sicvio Fluckiger noted that human capital development is vital for economic development to a land locked country like Rwanda. He affirmed his country’s long term support to Rwanda.

The Government of Rwanda is presently involved in the process of developing Sector Strategies to implement Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS) programs. As stated in the Country’s Vision 2020, one of the identified development pillars is Human Resource Development through skills development.