Rwanda’s TVET sector urged to bridge skills gap at national decent work dialogue

By Elias Hakizimana.

Kigali, July 25, 2025 — Stakeholders from Rwanda’s education and labor sectors convened today at the Don Bosco Hospitality Centre in Gatenga for a National Dialogue on Decent Work, with a pressing call to address the persistent mismatch between vocational training programs and labor market demands.

Organized by the Salesians of Don Bosco through its Planning and Development Office (PDO), in partnership with Don Bosco Tech Africa, the forum brought together representatives from TVET institutions, labor unions, private sector companies, policymakers, and media practitioners.

Discussions focused on promoting inclusive, safe, and productive employment—key elements of Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation (NST2).

A structural challenge: The skills mismatch

Despite notable progress in education and economic development over the past two decades, Rwanda continues to grapple with a serious skills gap.

A presentation by Vincent Usabyeyezu, Coordinator of the “Equality Profits” project at Salesians of Don Bosco Kimihurura, shed light on alarming data.

“Some reports indicate a national skills deficit of nearly 40%,” Usabyeyezu said. “This is a structural challenge that continues to stifle productivity and job creation, especially among young people.”

According to the presentation, over 42% of Rwandan youth are either unemployed or underemployed, with many absorbed into low-paying, subsistence agriculture.

One report cited during the dialogue revealed that at least half of the workforce lacks the qualifications required for existing job roles. Sectors such as finance, manufacturing, construction, tourism, and management are particularly affected by skills mismatches.

“Young people are struggling to find jobs because they lack the practical skills that the labor market requires,” Usabyeyezu emphasized. “They are trained theoretically, but employers are looking for people with hands-on experience—technical know-how, soft skills, communication, and service-oriented abilities.”

He stressed the need for urgent curriculum reform in TVET schools to better reflect the realities of today’s job market. Sectors such as services, tourism, and design hold promise for youth employment, but schools are not preparing students adequately to seize those opportunities.

Decent Work: A national priority

André Mutsindashyaka, Secretary General of the Rwanda Extractive Workers’ Union (REWU), highlighted the link between decent work and national development.

“Decent work is not just a human right—it’s a driver of economic transformation,” he said. “It stands on four key pillars: social dialogue, labor rights, social protection, and job creation.”

Mutsindashyaka warned that the growing disconnect between classroom instruction and job market expectations undermines national efforts to reduce youth unemployment and underemployment.

“TVET institutions need to align more closely with employer needs. Dual training programs, internships, and real-time labor market surveys should become the norm.”

Path forward: Strengthening partnerships

The event created space for meaningful dialogue between educators, training providers, and employers. Many participants called for stronger public-private partnerships to co-design practical curricula and introduce continuous learning systems.

“There is no single actor who can solve this issue alone,” said one private sector representative. “Collaboration between schools, industry, and government is the only way forward.”

As Rwanda seeks to industrialize and become a knowledge-based economy, stakeholders agreed that addressing the skills mismatch is a critical step toward achieving long-term, inclusive growth. The National Dialogue is expected to inform ongoing policy efforts and inspire practical reforms across the TVET ecosystem.

             

theinspirerpublications@gmail.com