IPRC Ngoma and partners are going ahead with preparations for piloting dual training in welding slated to start from the beginning of 2019. The baseline study has been successfully carried out at IPRC Ngoma with discussion on the training plan, apprenticeship model and curriculum.

A training of trainers will be conducted in January 2019 as a build-up to the dual training.

The College is partnering with the Germany-based Chamber of Skilled Crafts Koblenz (CSC Koblenz) and Association for Promotion of Metal Works (APROMET).

In the dual training, one training part considered as theoretical will be conducted at IPRC Ngoma and the practical part will be conducted in companies where trainees will be assisted by in-company trainers. Therefore, in dual training, some training contents are allocated to companies.

Dual training in welding will be provided under a TVET Partnership Project started in 2014 with a duration of three years and later extended until 2020, following its impact and excellent results. It is financed by the German Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation.

The partnership project piloted dual training in masonry, tiling and painting. For the remaining two years 2019, 2020, the project will focus on dual training in welding.

During a week-long baseline study in which the project partners played a part, IPRC Ngoma and partners were involved in different activities including discussions, practical exercises, and workshop inspection. The baseline study was carried out from October 01 to October 05, 2018.

The activities carried out in the baseline study included review of theoretical and practical knowledge of trainers/technicians, discussion on curriculum and teaching methods, test of welding equipment to check conformance with standards and work safety requirement, practical exercises and demonstrations of the trainers in the welding processes, joint assessment and analysis of welding samples, among others.

During the discussions between partners held at IPRC Ngoma during the baseline study, the Principal of IPRC Ngoma Dipl.-Ing. Ephrem Musonera said dual training will highly enhance quality in welding training while compared to the existing training system.

He said it will also benefit companies because it will produce TVET graduates with high skills and practical experience with immediate readiness to work as experienced technicians.

For the companies, welding dual training will drive away the impediment of using employees with limited practical experience, according to project implementers.

For Dipl.-Ing. Musonera, the dual training to be piloted may encounter some stumbling blocks because of its newness in Rwanda, but its success can be predicted if implementers are strongly committed and strengthen collaboration.

''In Rwanda, TVET schools and companies are still in a stage of building up but the current achievements are promising... The partners need strong commitment, close collaboration, ownership and same vision to pilot successfully this project,'’ He said

''It is just a pilot training that will be evaluated and the results will help in decision-making as regards advancing dual training.''

The President of APROMET Jean Baptiste Gashayija was supportive and collaborative in welding dual training but expressed his concern that companies' attitudes and mindset could impede dual training. He called for an awareness raising to tackle any companies' reluctance or lack interest that may arise.

However, he added ‘'I am confident in my expectations that companies will understand the importance of their contribution in dual training as they are to reap a lot of benefits accruing from it.''  

Dual system is used in The Federal Republic of Germany in the provision of vocational training. Due to its success, other countries are emulating this system.

MüllerWolfgang, a master trainer from CSC Koblenz, shared experience and knowledge on how dual training is conducted in Germany.

In Germany vocational training is dual, it is therefore provided on the job and in vocational schools. Practical training is given at work (in companies) and is backed up by theoretical training and general education provided in vocational schools, according to Wolfgang's explanations.

He went on saying that dual system has a characteristic feature of   providing   knowledge and skills linked to acquiring the necessary job experience. Therefore, the training proceeds under the same conditions that the trainee will encounter when practicing his chosen occupation.

Dual training allows the trainees to keep up with constantly-changing technologies and job demands. The trainees tackle concrete tasks under real working conditions.

At the completion of baseline study, the master trainer appreciated the skills of welding trainers as well as tools and equipment in welding workshop at IPRC Ngoma, as regards conformance with welding standards and safety.

Furthermore, IPRC Ngoma and partners agreed that trainee selection will be done by companies. The selectees will work with companies and will be sent to IPRC Ngoma for training. This selection approach is used in Germany.