Vocational and Technical Training: Focus of the 47th Session of the CONFEMEN (Liège, April 17-18, 1996) back a page | next page Making sure that young people will find employment is a critical concern for all education systems throughout the world. The issue is particularly acute in the countries of the South, because of the short span of schooling and the fact that education systems are often out of touch with the situation and needs of communities. The employment of young people, whatever their level of academic achievement, is of major concern to the CONFEMEN. In 1994, the declaration of Yaoundé provided a framework for basic education with two objectives: to prepare pupils for secondary education, but also for employment should they not go beyond primary school. At the 47th session of CONFEMEN, discussions centred on technical education and vocational training. Despite the tremendous potential technical and vocational education have for the integration of youth in the workforce, they represent only a minor part of secondary education in all of CONFEMEN member countries. The 47th session of the Conference of Ministers of Education having French as a common language (CONFEMEN) was held in Liège last 17 and 18 April. Technical and vocational education were at the heart of discussions. Today, in the CONFEMEN countries of the South, only 38% of primary schoolage children have access to primary education, only 20% of primary school graduates go on to secondary school, and only 5% to 10% of these have access to technical and/or vocational training. Technical training therefore only accounts for a small proportion of general secondary education. Training opportunities for the 80% of pupils who do not go to secondary school are limited to traditional apprenticeship. Vocational and technical education suffer from a lack of human and material resources and the inadequacy of supply and demand, both in terms of quality and quantity. While job demand is high in the informal sector (agriculture, crafts, fishing, livestock raising, and transport) supply side is geared towards the modern sector (industry, business). At the conclusion of the discussions, ministers unanimously adopted the Liège Declaration. It was decided that technical and vocational education along with basic education should be given top priority. The following recommendations were made: (i) vocational and technical training should be fully integrated in education systems; (ii) the status of vocational and technical training education should be enhanced; and, iii) curriculum content should be reviewed in order to promote the acquisition of individual skills and vocational qualifications. The meeting aroused great interest. It was proposed that a meeting which would bring together decisionmakers, education and training officers, and economic partners should be organized to investigate the subject further and formulate implementable political strategies. Martine Boulanger, Documentalist, Permanent Technical Secretariat of the CONFEMEN To receive the background paper, L'éducation de base : Vers une nouvelle école, you may contact: Martine Boulanger CONFEMEN Sécrétariat Technique Permanent Immeuble Kébé-Extension, 3ème étage B.P. 3220 Dakar, Sénégal Tel: (221)21 60 22 ; (221)22 47 34 ; (221)21 80 07 Télex: 21-563 - CONFEMEN SG Fax: (221)21 32 26 Cost of the publication: 1.310 FCFA To be transferred to the following account: SGBS 0-500-710 193/2 CONFEMEN-Fonds commun.

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