Factors influencing enrollment in technical and vocational education training schools in Rwanda; Case of technical and vocational education training schools in Kigali City and Southern Province

Abstract

The Ministry of Education, has created the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with aims of gaining of knowledge, skills and attitude for the response of labor market in terms of quality and numbers. However, despite the efforts made by different education stakeholders to strengthen the TVET schools, low enrollment in TVET schools poses a big problem. This research assessed the factors influencing enrollment in TVET schools of Rwanda. To do so, TVET policy makers, TVET schools’ head teachers, students and parents were consulted in order to assess which among the school-based, socio-economic and psychological factors namely Curriculum content, Textbooks availability, Trainers’ capacity, Trainers’ insufficiency, Workshop status, Training materials and equipment, Availability of training consumables, School leadership, School location, Boarding facilities, Government scholarship, School fees, Education costs, Family income, Family conflict, Parent’s education, TVET negative perception, Employment opportunities, are the main causes to low enrollment in TVET Schools and devise measures to increase enrollment. A descriptive study using the survey method was considered and 3 educational policy makers from MINEDUC as education policy designer, NESA as education policy regulator and RTB as education policy implementer, 6 school head teachers, 6 parents and 398 students were selected as sample to be contacted using questionnaire with the purpose of responding to the set of research questions. Findings of the study revealed school-based and socio-economic and psychological factors as the predominant causes of low enrollment in TVET Schools and they are connected with TVET misconception and lack of career path. As a solution to that challenge, some strategies like mobilizing resources to invest in TVET, linking training programs with job market demand, strengthening collaboration among stakeholders to name but a few were suggested to education stakeholders.