Together with the Rwanda TVET Board and the Digital Skills Foundation, GIZ Eco-Emploi trained 30 TVET master trainers (one from each district) on digital literacy and e-teaching/didactical skills from 31 January to 4 February in Muhanga. In addition to the physical training, the 30 master trainers will continue to take online classes and receive regular coaching and guidance to learn how to integrate technology into their teaching and how to transfer this knowledge to their colleagues.

“Through this training, I improved my understanding on digital tools and how to use them in my daily work as a TVET trainer. I learnt how to train and assess online and how to monitor students’ participation. With the skills I acquired in this training, I feel confident to train other trainers and students in using digital tools.” (Elyse Mugabiyimana)

The training of the 30 master trainers is a first step towards mainstreaming digital knowledge in the Rwandan TVET sector. The overall objective of this joint Rwandan-German initiative is to capacitate all TVET trainers in Rwanda in digital literacy skills (“Professional Digital Skills Passport”) and didactical skills in e-teaching (“Beginner: Teachers getting started”) in line with international standards. After completing their training, the master trainers will support the roll-out of the training to 2,500 TVET trainers across the country. Each master trainer will serve as focal point for one district with around 75-100 TVET trainers who were already equipped with laptops by the Rwanda TVET Board.

The covid-19 pandemic has heavily affected the Rwandan education sector. Lockdowns and subsequent closure of schools, including TVET schools, increased the need for accelerated development of digital learning solutions, the build-up of IT-infrastructure and the procurement of devices for teachers and students. Both, the Rwanda TVET Board and Rwanda Polytechnic have started to develop digital learning content and established digital learning platforms with the necessary IT infrastructure. The main challenge remains the lack of basic digital and didactical skills for e-teaching of most TVET trainers. TVET trainers so far have very little experience in e-teaching and enabling e-learning. Therefore, the joint programme to mainstream digital knowledge in the Rwandan TVET sector was started and will continue to be rolled-out throughout 2022 in all districts.