WDA launches third batch of trainings on skills development

Kigali, On Friday 07th February 2020. The ministry of education, through Work force Development Authority (WDA) launched the Skills Development Fund trainings under the third call that will train 3,515 trainees.

The event was attended by WDA officials and a series of 117 companies as successful applicants, training providers from different sectors namely agriculture, energy, hospitality, ICT, manufacturing, transport and logistics.

In his opening remarks, The Director General of WDA, ENG. Pascal Gatabazi said that this project is in line with the government efforts to empower Rwandans, especially youths, with quality practical hands-on skills to help transform the country’s economy

 He said that under the SDF trainings, they evaluate the companies’ proposals before giving them money to train people.

“Our young people will get employment but also the businesses will be able to get skilled people. We have to collaborate to ensure the trainings go well. We carry out auditing to assess if the trainings went well” He noted

The project provides enough practical skills that people might have not acquired from school.  This is also part of attracting investors since when they come, they need skilled people in a certain business,” he said.

He said that at least 80 per cent of the trainees will be able to get jobs after the trainings.

“Government has set up measures to create jobs every year. Therefore we have to build capacity of schools to strengthen practices for students. We also need the contribution if private sector to receive students and do practices in the companies,” he said.

 The SDF project   is funded by the World Bank and has the objective to minimize skills gap observed in the private business operators and will train over 9000 targeted trainees.

“The program is intended to minimize skills gaps by rapidly increasing the supply of high demand skills in the labor market,” he noted.

The Project is providing grants to firms with the most responsive proposals as an effective instrument to rapidly reduce skills gaps and promote employment.

Dr James Gashumba, Vice Chancellor of Rwanda Polytechnic said that the move aims at transforming the economy to modern economy becoming knowledge-based economy.

“Private sector will transform work skills and therefore knowledge based economy. The Government is investing to grow private sector as it is the main driver of the nation’s economy,” he said.

He reiterated that partnering with private sector in providing practical skills is paramount.

“We are looking forward to long-term relationship with private sector,” he said.