Curricula Adaptation: The First Step to Implementing the Pilot Dual Training System in Rwanda

Launch of the Dual Training System

At the beginning of 2020, Swisscontact through its project PROMOST (Promoting Market-Oriented Skills Training) in the Great Lakes Region, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, launched its new piloting project on the integration and implementation of workforce learning through the dual training system. The piloting project was introduced to support the Government of Rwanda in achieving its goal of increasing TVET training from 31% to 60% by 2024. The objective of the dual training system is to allow the TVET students an opportunity to improve their hands-on skills and acquire the knowledge requested in the market, through a combination of theoretical training at school and part-time apprenticeship at a hosting company.

 

Curricula Adaptation for the Dual Training System

In August 2020, Swisscontact with the support of Rwanda Polytechnic conducted a two-day workshop in Kigali with other implementing partners such as the Private Sector Federation, IPRC Karongi, and representatives of the 6 TVET Schools built under PROMOST to discuss and delegate the different roles and responsibilities required to implement the dual training system successfully.

The adaptation of curricula is the first step towards implementing dual training education system because it addresses the in-school and in-company competences, assessment and evaluation techniques, certification tools, trainee portfolio, and training chronograms. The purpose of the workshop was, firstly, to brainstorm ideas on how to ensure proper training both in schools and at the workplace. Secondly, attendees discussed different assessment and evaluation approaches. Finally, they reviewed the training plan according to the competencies identified as well as the time required to master each skill in both training sites. 

One of the concerns mentioned by participants from the Private Sector Federation includes the fact that the in-company trainers lack adequate skills to implement the dual training education, especially with regard to following the curricula and conducting proper assessments. Part of the solutions proposed to address this challenge includes providing necessary training of trainers in both training sites while creating adequate collaboration among the trainers from both sides.

Swisscontact Rwanda and the Rwanda Polytechnic concluded the workshop by assuring the participants from schools and the private sector that discussions about the implementation of the dual training system will continue and that the capacity building for trainers from both sites will be the next step. It was also agreed that monitoring mechanisms would be established with each training site assigning a person in charge of explicitly monitoring the implementation of the dual training system.