Kigali 10^th March 2021

Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) on 10^th March 2021 launched TVET training centers in five of their correctional facilities namely Rubavu, Huye, Nyanza, Nyarugenge and Rwamagana. The training centers worth Rwf 4 Billion were constructed in partnership with the Kingdom of Netherlands, through its embassy in Rwanda and they will offer trainings to inmates in ten (10) different technical trades. The training centers are composed of 12 workshops and classrooms which have been well equipped to enable inmates acquire skills in masonry, plumbing, motor vehicle mechanic, electricity, construction, tailoring, carpentry, leathercraft, ICT, hairdressing and beautification as well as welding.

The Commissioner General of RCS, CGP George Rwigamba, in his remarks said that schools will help convicted people to be well reformed and rehabilitated before they reenter back to their communities as capable skilled people since the rehabilitation goes along with education and training.

The selection of the trainees is based on the willingness and prior learning of the inmates. Prior to the construction of these TVET schools, inmates used to study informally depending on the available skills in Prisons. Having formal schools will facilitate the inmates to get certificates from the Institution in charge.

The Director General of Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), Eng. Paul Umukunzi, argued that inmates are going to study in line with TVET programs and will be sanctioned by a certificate of competence. This to be possible RCS is advised to seek for accreditation for the inaugurated schools.

He said that TVET trainings are offered in levels, from level one to level seven and the certificates depend on the students’ capacity. Students who will meet the criteria will pass national exams as other students and get certificates after succeeding in the Tests.

Ambassador of Netherlands, Matthijs Wolters, thanked the Ministry of Justice and Rwanda Correctional Service for building schools for inmates and urged inmates to use that opportunity to gain skills which will help them in normal life.

The Ambassador said that he is expecting to see the support offered by his country changing lives of inmates when back to the community.

The Minister of Justice and Antony General, Johnston Busingye, requested Inmates to seriously consider the given opportunity and study hard in order to get skills that they will use when back in their communities. He requested the inmates to be good Ambassadors of RCS when back in the community. “We will be happy if you can put into practice acquired skills and promoted from helper to technician” said the Minister.

He said.” Most of the young inmates are schools drop out and we think it is one of the causes of committing crimes, we thought once there are given opportunity to get hands-on skills, probably it is one of the solutions on their drop out even if it is not 100%.

Currently, the TVET training centers are offering short courses of six months and according to the commissioner general of RCS, they will be training around 3000 inmates in each intake of six months.

Inmates that were spoken to, are already optimistic about their life after prison due to the skills they are acquiring. Jean Damascene Musabimana, one of the inmates currently acquiring skills in welding said that he had no job before being imprisoned. “The TVET skills will help me to start my business because where I come from there are few wielders. I am ready to approach financial institutions to acquire funding for starting up my own enterprise", said Musabimana.

The target is to establish TVET schools in all prisons across the country and according to the Commissioner General, 36 RCS staff have already been deployed in TVET and IPRC schools as part of the long term strategy to hone their skills so they can train the inmates.

Inmates doing drawings respectively in Plumbing and Masonry