The third cohort composed of 17 trainees graduated on January 18, 2019 at IPRC Ngoma after completing a one-year dual training in construction trades which are masonry, painting and tiling.

These trainees who specialized in one of the three trades of construction underwent a one-year dual training conducted at IPRC Ngoma and on construction sites. The training was conducted from January to December 2018.

They have satisfied the requirements of professional certificates as per Rwanda TVET Qualification Framework (RTQF).

As for qualification title, the graduands received TVET Certificate III in their respective trades after completing  Level III of RTQF. 

The training was offered under the TVET Partnership Project, of which IPRC Ngoma is among the main implementers.

The partnership project  piloted  dual training  to actively engage the private sector in the planning and implementation of vocational training in the construction sector, focusing on masonry, tiling and painting.

The Principal of IPRC Ngoma Dipl.-Ing.Ephrem Musonera elucidated that the difference between dual training system and the traditional training system was clear basing on the fact that  the outcomes of the dual training outweighed  the ones of traditional training.

Dipl.-Ing. Musonera  expressed  gratitude to the construction companies that received the trainees for doing practicals as the training's practical part, constituting 50%, was conducted  on construction sites  where trainees were assisted by in-company trainers. Another part considered as theoretical was conducted at IPRC Ngoma  and constitutes also 50%.

Dual training is offered by allocating some training contents (practical) to companies.

Moreover, Dipl.-Ing.  Musonera called for the increased number of construction companies involved in the implementation of dual training program.

Dual training was successful thanks to roles played by its implementers mainly  IPRC Ngoma,  Chamber of Skilled Crafts Koblenz ( CSC Koblenz) from Germany and Rwanda's Association of Buildings and Public Works Contractors (AEBTP).

On behalf of AEBTP David Munana said the dual training in construction benefited the companies in that they got skilled, qualified and specialized workforce in tiling, masonry and painting. 

Munana went on to say  that positive attributes should be added to the trainees' marketable skills and practical experience they have got so as to be successful in working for companies of construction and building services or creating own jobs.

The trainees' representative reaffirmed their suitability to work for companies saying : ''As we had good trainers and we got practical experience from big companies, in our respective trades we are skilled and competitive on the job market.''

Principal Dipl.-Ing. Musonera told the graduands to embrace the right practices on the labor market.

''We are counting on you to repair the tarnished  image of construction workers because the society considers most of them as corrupt and  trickery-oriented people because of their  unethical practices,'' Dipl.-Ing. Musonera told them,

''As you are well equipped with skills , it compels you to embrace  professionalism, positive attributes and integrity so as to drive away the negative perception on construction workers. Be agents of change.''

Started in  2014, the project implementation will come to an end in 2020. It is financed by the German Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation.

The project coordinator Matti Tomingas told the graduands that they were experts in the construction trades, skilled and experienced to work for construction companies. 

'' It's now your decision on what to do next between working for companies, creating own jobs or continuing studies,'' he told them

 After realizing the success of piloting dual training in construction trades, IPRC Ngoma and partners have also embarked on  dual training in welding.