Over 100 Rwandan youth under Apprenticeship programme graduate
By Our Reporter
More than 100 pioneer Rwandan youth from 13 districts have received their certificates upon completion of courses in fashion and beauty, food processing, bakery, hair dressing, tailoring and sign language under the Apprenticeship programme dubbed Igira Ku Murimo.
“The Rwandan government is currently implementing an ambitious programme aimed to reducing youth unemployment by 2024 through building a skilled labour force that aligns with government policy to build a knowledge based economy,” said Gaspard Musonera ,the Permanent Secretary who represented the Minister of Public Service and Labour (MIFOTRA), Fanfan Rwanyindo Kayirangwa .
“The launch of Igira Ku Murimo that will go a long way in closing the skills gap in Rwanda is a response to a survey that showed that a considerate number of Rwandan graduates remained unemployable because they fell short of the skills needed in the Rwandan job market,” said Musonera at the first graduation ceremony held at Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre in Kigali today.
Musonera extended government’s gratitude to development partners such as the Belgian Development Cooperation (DGD which supports the programme through APEFE (the Workplace Learning Support Programme).
Igira Ku Murimo is jointly implemented by MIFOTRA and the Private Sector Federation (PSF) in collaboration with different stakeholders including the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), Rwanda Polytechnic (RP), Workforce Development Authority (WDA) and Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
Musonera called on graduates to uphold professionalism, delivery of quality services as well as passion for work adding that the graduates under Igira Ku Murimo are more competent than their colleagues who graduated before the programme was launched.
“Of 54 students who trained in tailoring 47 have already got employment,” said Musonera.
