KETHA, RTB promote hospitality labourforce through professional training

By Elias Hakizimana.

Kigali Excellent Tourism and Hospitality Academy (KETHA) in partnership with Rwanda TVET Board (RTB) have awarded professional certificates to 241 graduates who acquired skills in hospitality over the last six months.

The initiative was supported by the government’s Skills Development Fund (SDF) through RTB to enhance professionalism and maintain a labourforce that performs in the hospitality industry.

Among the 241 graduates, 151 were financed by African Evangelist Enterprise (AEE Rwanda), 70 were sponsored by their families while 20 were financed by the Skills Development Fund.

Alphonse Habimana, the Principal of KETHA lauds the efforts by the Government of Rwanda through Rwanda TVET Board and National Examination and School Institution Authority (NESA), different partners including AEE Rwanda, SDF, hotels and tourism institutions as well as parents and teachers for their contribution in accompanying students to the labour market.  

The good news is that among 167 graduates, some of them are employed while others have been promoted to advanced schools and others got professional internships.

“For few who have not yet got jobs, KETHA will continue to partner with different stakeholders to link them with employers and other labour opportunities. It is a great privilege and pride for the school that some of internees end up by getting hired by the hosting hotels due to their discipline and professionalism at work,” Habimana told The Inspirer in an interview.  

“11 out of 20 students who were financed by SDF are now employed, in partnership with Jeet’s Hospitality and Tourism Management/Mauritius, one of them was given a scholarship to Mauritius to get advanced skills and related degree. One of 151 students sponsored by AEE Rwanda also got scholarship to Mauritius while two who performed well were given kinds of physical awards, as the school, we are happy for that,” Habimana added.

He commended efforts of SDF and World Bank in helping Rwandans to embrace the labour market, contributing a lot in poverty reduction and promoting social-economic development of the country.

James Muhire, one of the graduates financed by SDF was given a scholarship to Mauritius. He said that the package of skills he got from Kigali Excellent for Tourism and Hospitality Academy (KETHA) means a lot for his future career in the industry.

“I will strive for building and maintaining good customer service and try to meet client expectations, I will also put entrepreneurship and hard work at the fore front, plus courtesy, patriotism of Rwandans and love for work,” Muhire said.

Euphrosine Isingizwe, one of the graduates who has been hired by one of the five-star hotels in Kigali said that her bigger vision is to become an entrepreneur in hospitality. 

“l learned different items like F&B salad, different rice meat, cakes and soup and sauce. In the future of work, I will be an entrepreneur in my field of work, hotel and related culinary services. I also want to increase my knowledge and skills to further my experience in the career so that I can achieve my goals,’ she said.

“I was interested in hospitality at my little age, and immediately after leaving high school, I joined the industry, starting at a hotel level in food & beverages section. This was because I thought that the best way to learn hospitality skills is through practice in a work-like environment. Few months later, I realized that hospitality is not an industry for everyone, but if you possess the right skill set and qualities is imperative to get a satisfying job in the industry,” Isingizwe added.

Sponsored by Skills Development Fund (SDF), she decided to join KETHA with an objective to learn and acquire more practical and hands-on skills with lecturers’ guidance and assistance.

“Since my enrollment until my graduation, I have been progressively acquiring a variety of hospitality skills. The package acquired mainly include Communication, Interpersonal skills, Strategy & Innovation, Attention to detail, Cultural awareness and sensitivity, Problem-solving, Teamwork spirit, Stress and Time management,” she noted, thanking SDF that helped her to acquire the skills.

Marie Claire Uwabera, another graduate who was supported by SDF has also got a job prior to her graduation. She said: “I like hospitality and the great role to achieve more in the field is mine. I thank the school and its partners who helped me to get a certificate. I gained a lot of skills, and my vision is to venture into hospitality, especially culinary arts in hotel and restaurant,”

Two students who were sponsored by AEE Rwanda were given physical prizes for good discipline.

The students sponsored by Skills Development Fund (SDF) and World Bank.

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