Sekkouri kicks off the vocational training school year

A total workforce of 678,605 trainees is pursuing training for the 2024-2025 year, spread across 2,250 vocational training institutes. To support this growth, 24 new establishments will open their doors, including the scheduled Cities of Trades and Skills (CMC), thus bringing the total capacity of these establishments to 21,865 places. Furthermore, as part of social support for vocational training trainees, particularly those from rural areas, the ministry has also strengthened its boarding school system with four new structures, bringing the total to approximately 143 with a reception capacity of 19,085 beneficiaries.



At the level of the Health sector, a fundamental pillar of socio-economic development, and in accordance with the Royal Vision for universal access to quality care, the vocational training system has been strengthened, emphasized the Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, Younes Sekkouri. He noted that the number of training establishments in the field of Health trades amounts to 347, including 326 private ones, training 52,791 trainees in 38 specialized fields. “This effort illustrates Morocco's commitment to training qualified professionals to meet the growing needs of the sector,” he noted.

For her part, the Director General of the Office of Vocational Training and Employment Promotion (OFPPT), Loubna Tricha, made it known that the vocational training establishments under the OFPPT are welcoming 2nd-year trainees as of Wednesday for the 2024-2025 training year, with an overall offer of 414,800 educational places, including 275,000 in the 1st year for which the launch of training is scheduled for September 6.

Regarding the new Institute of Training in Health and Social Action Trades of Meknes, Ms. Tricha indicated that it contributes to strengthening the capacity of the system with 768 educational places, as part of a diversified training offer in 10 diploma-granting courses touching on health and social action trades. Carried out according to a public-private partnership mode, with the contribution of the Ministry of Health and professionals, the 3 institutes of training in health and social action trades (IFMSAS) of Meknes, Beni-Mellal, and Oujda offer a total reception capacity of 768, 624, and 768 educational places respectively, i.e., a total capacity of 2,160 places, according to OFPPT data.

In terms of infrastructure, the three institutes have a range of spaces promoting dynamic learning, including specialized rooms and rooms dedicated to soft skills allowing for the strengthening of linguistic, entrepreneurial, behavioral, and digital skills, in addition to simulation centers equipped with the necessary equipment ensuring the immersion of trainees in an environment close to the reality of the hospital environment. The three IFMSAS each include a Professional Orientation Center (COP) allowing for personalized support for candidates, trainees, and graduates in terms of information, orientation, support for the construction and realization of their professional projects, in addition to insertion support activities. And in order to guarantee ideal accommodation conditions for trainees, the IFMSAS of Meknes and Oujda each have boarding schools with a reception capacity of 120 beds each, 50% of which are for girls.

As a reminder, the creation of these three Institutes is part of the Charaka Fund, set up by the MCA-Morocco Agency, through the “Compact II” cooperation program concluded between the government of the Kingdom of Morocco and the government of the United States of America. The realization of the three IFMSAS required respective budgets of 82.7 MDH for Meknes, 69.89 MDH for Beni-Mellal, and 81.82 MDH for Oujda. During this visit to the IFMSAS of Meknes, Mr. Sekkouri was accompanied by the Wali of the Fez-Meknes region, Governor of the Fez prefecture, Mr. Said Zniber, and the President of the Fez-Meknes Regional Council, Mr. Abdelouahed El Ansari, in addition to representatives of economic partners and regional actors. Intra-Company Apprenticeship: Morocco aims to train 50,000 apprentices by 2026 Furthermore, Younes Sekkouri announced the government's intention to train more than 50,000 apprentices by 2026, notably through the creation of Intra-Company Apprenticeship Training Centers (CFA-IE).

“Our objective, in accordance with the Instructions of H.M. King Mohammed VI, is to train more than 50,000 apprentices by 2026, through the creation of new CFA-IEs, the strengthening of partnerships with companies, and the adaptation of training to the needs of the labor market,” the minister declared to MAP. In this sense, he reported the launch this month of a roadmap including specific measures for this apprenticeship dynamic. According to the minister, more than 50 CFA-IEs have been created to date, mainly in the textile, automotive, leather, and hospitality sectors, with an insertion rate of more than 80%.”

He emphasized that intra-company apprenticeship is a win-win solution for young people, for companies, and for the entire country. In the same vein, he highlighted the government's commitment to supporting the training and development of skills necessary for the employability of young people through intra-company apprenticeship. The minister specified that the development of intra-company apprenticeship is an absolute priority for the government. “We are convinced that this system will contribute to reducing youth unemployment, improving company productivity, and strengthening Morocco's attractiveness for foreign investment,” said Mr. Sekkouri.

The minister emphasized that in accordance with the High Royal Orientations, the Department of Vocational Training has established partnerships with numerous companies to create these Intra-Company Apprenticeship Training Centers. According to him, this system aims to develop the skills of young people in line with the needs of companies, thus facilitating their professional insertion while improving the competitiveness of companies.

These centers offer young people technical and practical training directly within companies, a model that proves particularly adapted to young people who have not finished their studies, up to the baccalaureate level, explained Mr. Sekkouri. He noted that “this is the typical profile of apprentices corresponding to NEETs (not in employment, education, or training),” emphasized Mr. Sekkouri, noting that the cooperation between the ministry, the government, and the private sector is “very solid” in the implementation of this win-win system. “The demands of the private sector must be met, otherwise recruitment cannot take place. The private sector has every interest in this cooperation working,” he noted.

Apprenticeship, which combines 80% practice and 20% theory, is one of the most important mechanisms of this collaboration, he detailed. “When there is a salary and support, it proves very effective. The insertion rate reaches 100% and the turnover rate does not exceed 2%,” rejoiced Mr. Sekkouri. The minister made it known that the budgets allocated by the government are encouraging, but companies also participate significantly to support this process.