Karongi, on November 15, 2021: From the 14^th to 20^th November, 2021, at IPRC Karongi is taking place “TVET Skills Competition, Western Province 2021” organized by Rwanda TVET Board (RTB) in collaboration with Swisscontact, IPRC Karongi & 7 Districts of the Western Province under the support of Promoting Market Oriented Skills Training in the Great Lakes Region (PROMOST), a Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) program implemented by Swisscontact.

This competition aims at raising the profile and recognition of trainees, practical experiments, industrial exposure, and showing how important skills are in achieving socio-economic growth. It will further provide employers and training providers with a proven method of up-skilling and developing young people from all backgrounds and abilities.  

The competition has brought together 118 Level 5 students from 44 TVET Schools which train in the fields of Masonry, Carpentry, Culinary Arts, Industrial Electricity, Software Development and Auto-Engine in the Western Province.

Speaking to the contestants during the competition induction on 14^th November, 2021, Didier Munezero, a consultant and facilitator of whole TVET Skills Competition process, said that the Competition was organized to supplement National Skills Competition which was conducted by Rwanda Polytechnic previously.

“This TVET Skills Competition comes after the National Skills Competition which was organized by Rwanda Polytechnic from 5-7^th October, 2021 in order to obtain best contestants, in Bricklaying, Electrical Installation, Plumbing & Heating and Welding, who will represent Rwanda in the World Skills Africa that will take place in Namibia from 28^th March to 2^nd April, 2022,” said Didier.

He added that though Rwanda Polytechnic has only focused on 4 trades in the National Skills Competition, it was realized that the Competition in Namibia will engage 16 trades. To that end, Rwanda TVET Board in collaboration with SDC intervened with the TVET Skills Competition from which winners in Culinary Arts, Auto-Engine, Software Development and Carpentry trades may eventually join the ones from Rwanda Polytechnic to represent the country in the World Skills Competition, Namibia.

RTB Production and Incubation Centers Management Specialist, Diogene Kagango commended the competition participants for they chose right to enroll TVET and urged them to do all it takes so that even others can be proud.

He said, “You have been told that the winners will represent the country, so keep in mind that a person representing the country must be very qualified and competent so as to keep our National Flag high. This competition is our occasion to assess our capacity level in the TVET as well as to raise its awareness.”

The competition itself started on 15^th November, 2021 whereby it is conducted in practical experiments facilitated by consulted experts from both Private Sector and IPRCs. There will be a preliminary part in which contestants will compete as a team of twos whereas in the final each student will compete personally.

At the end of the competition, first four winners from each trade will be awarded different prizes, include medals & certificates, smart phones, tablets and laptop computers, during the closing ceremony.

Contestants were briefed on rules and regulations of the competition

Competitors in the preliminary competition