Rwanda Calls for Disruption-Proof TVET System to Create 1.25 Million Jobs by 2029 -

KIGALI – Rwanda’s Minister of State for Education, Claudette Irere, has called for a collective push to equip young Rwandans with resilient, future-proof skills amid global economic shifts.

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The Minister sounded the call on Thursday, June 4, 2026, during the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Sub-Sector Working Group engagement in Nyagatare, Rwanda.

The retreat, which brought together key partners from government, industry, and development organizations, was held under the theme: “Driving Rwanda’s Transformation Agenda through Market-Relevant Skills and Innovative TVET Systems.”

Participants reviewed progress on NST2 TVET targets and the forthcoming TVET Strategy 2025–2030, while focusing on investments, partnerships, and support needed from development partners and the private sector for successful implementation.

Speaking to the retreat, Minister Irere underscored the urgency of accelerating progress toward Rwanda’s ambitious national target: creating 1.25 million productive and decent jobs by 2029.

In her keynote remarks, she called for a paradigm shift away from traditional training models toward a disruption-proof, demand-driven TVET system, declaring that Rwanda’s ambition remains unchanged despite global challenges.

“Even in the face of global challenges, our ambition remains unchanged. We must continue equipping learners with the skills, innovation, and adaptability needed to thrive, create jobs, and contribute meaningfully to Rwanda’s economic transformation,” Minister Irere stated.

The Minister outlined three critical priorities for the sector’s next phase, including stronger industry partnerships to align training curricula with real-time labour market needs.

She pointed to a greater focus on entrepreneurship and self-reliance to turn TVET graduates into job creators, and a renewed commitment to emerging sectors such as green industries, digital technologies, and advanced manufacturing.

Patrice Umukunzi, Director General of Rwanda’s TVET Board, underscored market-relevant skills as key to achieving Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and NST2 targets, calling TVET the essential bridge from workforce potential to a productive labour market.

He called for stronger collaboration among government, industry, development partners, and skills experts to build a future-ready TVET system that equips learners to drive Rwanda’s transformation agenda.

“We need stronger collaboration among government institutions, industry, development partners, and skills experts to build a future-ready TVET system,” Mr. Umukunzi said.

Meanwhile, the participants addressed sector challenges and explored solutions, from strengthening industry-academia linkages and workplace learning to promoting entrepreneurship and better employment outcomes for TVET graduates.