Directors of companies that partner with the Workforce Development Authority have been urged to strongly support the Industrial Attachment Programme.
The call was made by the Head of training and development at PSF, Jean Gakuba while opening the workshop organized to equip the supervisors with a common understanding of IAP and tools that will be used to conduct the process and achieve its best practice.
The Industrial attachment programme is a training whereby TVET Students are placed in companies/ industries to acquire practical hands on skills under the mentor-ship of a company supervisor with vast experience in that area.
Gakuba stressed that students need to be groomed into good service providers through the IAP in a transparent manner so that they become competent workers.
He noted that IAP based on set principals will facilitate industries to have a capacity building mechanism that makes good products for the labour market.
This workshop was attended by 197 Company supervisors, who among other issues discussed on how to prepare an implementation plan of the TVET industrial attachment program, suggest best strategies to bring employers on board to support this training program, share labor market information, etc
In his presentation, WDA’s Career guidance officer Gerard Karamutsa said that current TVET reforms involve many aspects including the idea of transforming Rwanda from an Agricultural based economy to a diversified one.
He says that the best way is through enhancing a TVET system guided by Competency-based approaches.
“Bringing together company supervisors, is one approach to promote Public-Private Partnership in adding value to the Industrial Attachment Program”, added Karamutsa.
One of the participants Francois Ngamije who heads the Rwanda Milk Sellers Association expressed his optimism in this approach saying that the IAP will strengthen Rwanda’s workforce.
He however remarked that more campaign strength is needed to make company owners understand the importance of admitting students for industrial attachment.