Kigali: On the 28^th December 2018 at Hill Top Hotel, the Vice Chancellor of Rwanda Polytechnic (RP)  Dr.. James Gashumba urged TVET Practionners  to  enhance the quality of teaching to make Rwandan students be able to compete in labor market.

Dr. James Gashumba was speaking during the debriefing meeting on recent TVET Week in which Africa Skills Competition2018 and TVET Symposium took place as the Week's major events.

The meeting brought together the principals of the Integrated Polytechnic Regional Colleges (IPRCs), Team Rwanda-WorldSkiIIs Africa 2018 Competitors, Rwanda National Experts, TVET Week 2018 Secretariat Members and other different people who contributed in the competition.

The Vice Chancellor gave his heart-felt thanks to the meeting attendees for their commitment to making WorldSkiIls Africa Competition so successful and said that it was the vision of the Government of Rwanda and the Ministry of Education in particular, Rwanda Polytechnic and the entire TVET family to prepare, host, and provide a conducive environment and forum for the Skills competitors.

He  further expressed that hosting Africa Skills Competition promoted the image and visibility of  the nation  and Rwanda Polytechnic in Africa and in the worldwide .

Dr. Gashumba called for hard work and proper planning so as for TVET practitioners to enable Rwandan students be able to compete at international level.

“You need to work hard and have a proper planning to make our students have skills that will help them be able to compete at international level.” Dr. James Gashumba urged.

Eng. Diogene Mulindahabi, Principal of IPRC Kigali and a Coordinator of the recent Africa Skills Competition expressed that the competition has laid a yardstick for the Rwandans to assess their level of competence in skills development.

He went on to say that TVET Symposium was a good way of sharing experiences and expertise around different themes related to the contribution of skills development which is Critical for industrial growth and job creation in Africa.

The Africa Skills Competition that was held in Rwanda from 21^st -23^rd November 2018 was organized by the Ministry of Education in Collaboration with Rwanda Polytechnic, Workforce Development Authority(WDA), World Skills International, FESTO DIDICTIC, TVET Development partners and other Stakeholders and  brought together 6 countries and focused 7 trades namely: Mechatronics, Electrical Wiring, Cooking, Welding, Plumbing, BrickLaying and Hairdressing and 5 Rwandan students obtained Goldon Medals.

Sophie Nyirabakwiye