Why TVET School students must pass practical examinations

Elias Hakizimana Sep 19, 2018Sep 19, 2018 0 Comments

By Elias Hakizimana.

Rwanda has officially kicked off the second national practical examinations for vocational education and training students (TVET) as part of continuing to raise their capacity and get them ready for labour market with required competencies.

At least 21,788 senior six students in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for 2018 are sitting for the exams from 19^th to 28^th September in 118 Centers from 184 Schools across the country.

The official opening of the examinations was led by Jerome Gasana, Director General of the Workforce Development Authority (WDA) on September 19, 2018 at Kabutare TVET School Practical Exam Centre in Huye District, Southern Province of Rwanda.

The candidates are being examined in different subjects including agriculture and livestock, general mechanics, motor vehicle mechanics, secretarial, hotel operations, tourism public works’, finance and banking, surveying, music, customs and tax operations among others.

In his remarks during the interview with the media, Gasana said that the practical exam session was introduced a couple of years ago as students used to pass only theoretical exam.

DG Gasana speaking to the media after launching TVET practical exams

“Practical exam approves that a student has understood the courses and prepare him/her for the labour market,” Gasana noted.

He calls up on the private sector to invest in TVET schools so that they can help deliver successful contribution at Rwanda’s labour market.

“We have seen tremendous results as many companies are employing TVET graduates and we wish from this year to start emphasizing on training those who are doing Agriculture and Animal health courses,” he said.

Gasana stressed that practical assessment prepares the TVET graduates to enter labor market with high competencies for performing well as the exams reflect what is needed by employers.

He said the practical exams initiative also encourages pre-final students to start preparing themselves for exams earlier.

DG Gasana looking at how students are doing practical exams in food processing

“This year we want to put more efforts in increasing capacity for TVET schools that teach agriculture and animal resources .Therefore practical exams in this year were launched in schools that teach agriculture such as food processing, animal treatment, forestry so that they help the community to develop,” he said.

He said that since TVET schools started that there have been positive results since the graduates easily get jobs and are highly looked for by employers and private sector for employment.

“We want to work with private sector so that TVET schools deliver on what they are expected for r on labor market,” he noted.

Gasana mentioned that there is target that every TVET school should have an incubation center for putting in practice acquired skills and that they should also include financial literacy in teaching programs that allow entrepreneurship skills on labor market.

“In the beginning of next year, we will build 4 big incubation centers under the financial support from India in Huye, Rubavu, Nyarugenge and Nyagatare with all necessary equipment. We will also build more 14 TVET schools so as to increase number of students,” he noted.