Learning Policy Impact

Brief Description of planned activity:
Fit4Work endeavors to enhance the effectiveness of Rwanda’s Workplace Learning Public Policy by conducting comprehensive assessment of the policy and its associated implementation guidelines. The outcomes of this
assessment will be utilized to formulate targeted recommendations, aimed at fostering desired policy reforms and enhancing the existing structures, strengthen strategic engagement with relevant policy makers and partners
for adequate policy reforms and effective implementation of the WPL frameworks. The overarching goal is to create a more conducive environment for workplace learning, thereby contributing to the overall improvement of the policy’s impact and efficacy in Rwanda. Learning in the workplace through apprenticeships, internships and industrial attachments is generally considered as a way still underdeveloped resource to enhance the quality of skills development, to improve the employability of graduates, and to find ways to swiftly react to changing skills’ needs in the Rwandan economy. However, the institutionalization of WPL programs is still relatively a new concept in the Rwandan education and training system; the number of workplace learning opportunities provided by companies does not meet the growing demand; capacities of companies to appropriately train, guide and supervise interns and apprentices are underdeveloped.

To bridge this gap, in 2015, the Government of Rwanda has put in place a Workplace Learning Policy to create systems, institutional structures as well as standards and regulations that ensure the full use and recognition of the country’s potential of training and learning at the workplace in order to increase the relevance and marketability of skills. The WPL policy is outdated considering that it was adopted in 2015, and has not been replaced or revised. However, the government has adopted the Workplace Learning Policy [WPL] implementation guidelines of 2021, to among other things; enhance coordination and harmonization of interventions espoused by different policies and strategies above mentioned. The implementation of 2015 Work Place Learning Policy indicates a number of issues including but not limited to inadequate coordination and harmonization of the workplace system, interventions and systems. The current WPL guidelines provide for a framework of coordination and harmonization of interventions, however, it falls short of setting up an  action plan/ Timeline of implementation and intervention targets. It’s against this background that AJPRODHO through CS Engage Dufatanye seek to implement the Enhancing Workplace Learning Public Policy Impact (Fit4Work) Project.