EI has welcomed the announcement by Rwanda’s national Education Minister, Vincent Biruta, that technical and vocational education and training (TVET) will again be allocated a considerable part of the Ministry’s budget. This is due to TVET’s acknowledged capacity to promote skills development and bridge existing skills gaps in the labour market.
RWF38 billion for TVET
TVET is allocated 38 billion Rwandan francs (RWF) out of the country’s 2013-2014 budget of RWF224 billion. This TVET budget will be allocated to 14 key programmes.
“This shows the efforts we want to put into TVET, as well as into the government’s education policy, and it is the key development in the new budget,” Biruta said.
However, he noted that there is a specific plan with respect to TVET teachers. This plan includes locating a local teacher training centre in the Kicukiro District and bringing in teachers from countries such as South Korea.
EI: Investment in quality education, good for economic and democratic development
“Rwanda knows best where to direct its national resources: in developing minds and training hands to build the nation, instead of destroying it through violence and war,” said EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen.
“By balancing resources allocated to TVET with other sectors of education, Rwanda will create a fully employable, responsible and independent workforce that will avoid another savage and senseless war. However, we urge the Rwandan Government to engage in social dialogue with teachers' unions on education issues. Only this way will national public authorities ensure quality education for all, developing a skilled workforce, but above all nurturing responsible citizens for the good of the country’s future.”
International cooperation
Van Leeuwen also welcomed the fact that EI facilitated the current cooperation between the Syndicat National de l'Enseignement du Primaire Rwanda(SNEP) and the Danish Union of Teachers (DLF).
This project aims to strengthen the capacity of SNEP and other teachers’ unions in Rwanda to develop policies as well as organisational, strategic and educational plans. This will be achieved by training around 200 leaders, trainers and school representatives. Union capacity building contributes to quality education, as training union leaders will improve their professional approach in classroom.