Lack of teaching materials and an outdated curriculum are hampering learning outcomes in Rwanda’s Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET).

According to a study on the current TVET programmes and the labour market needs in Rwanda published last week, there is an urgent need to harmonise the TVET curriculum and the job market.

The study commissioned by Labour Congress and Workers Fraternity in Rwanda (Cotraf); Federation of People’s Movements (FMP), Centre for Workers’ Training in Rwanda (Cefotrar) and the Association of Pensioners in Rwanda (ARR) showed that the TVET graduates enter the job market without adequate skills to withstand competition because of inadequacy in teaching.

Dr Claudien Ntahomvukiye and Jean Theogene Bihezande, who conducted the study said there is need to revamp the pedagogy and methodology in accordance with the labour market needs.

“The initial perception of TVET graduates is that they are skilled, but practically they are fall short of expectations because most of the curriculums are archaic. They devote so much time to theory which does not inculcate a practical mind-set among learners,” said Dr Ntahomvukiye.

According to the study, employers still prefer foreign skilled workers to local TVET graduates as a result.

“The local companies are yet to feel confident enough to engage our graduates because our teaching systems can’t deliver the same quality of graduate as those coming from outside,” said Gasore.

Among 321 respondents that participated in the study from both the Eastern Province and Kigali city, 41.9 per cent were employed by the private sector, 21 per cent in public bodies, while 16.2 per cent were self-employed.

Lack of experience was cited as the major obstacle to finding placement by 51 per cent of respondents followed by lack of referees at 35 per cent who said employment opportunities were hard to come by while 29 per cent of all respondents cited lack of adequate skills and competencies as a major obstacle to joining the labour market.