Rabat — Morocco’s Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, Younes Sekkouri said on Monday that the country now has 1,487 private vocational training institutes.
Speaking during the oral questions session at the House of Representatives, Sekkouri indicated that about 740,000 young people currently benefit from vocational training across the country, with more than 120,000 studying at private institutions.
However, the sector faces challenges, particularly in rapidly growing fields, he added, noting that the medical and paramedical sector alone attracts around 50,000 trainees out of the 120,000 in private institutes. This demand stems from the expanding social protection coverage and health investments, the minister explained.
He also indicated that a field study of over 400 private institutions revealed problems with the accreditation and qualification system, which pushed the government to work on addressing these issues, including previously restrictive evening class regulations and the accreditation process for diplomas and qualifications.
Starting next year, private institutes will offer evening classes from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily, plus Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This schedule is designed to help working people and those seeking retraining pursue their education more easily, especially in medium-sized cities.
Sekkouri also revealed the ministry’s plans to revise the accreditation process and regularly update the list of relevant sectors and professions. It also wants to strengthen partnerships between public and private sectors. “Countries that succeed in this field rely on close cooperation between the two sides with clear governance standards,” he said.
The minister noted the intense demand for health training programs, giving example with one program receiving 8,000 applications for its available seats, revealing a major shortage in this area. The government is working to expand capacity while maintaining training quality.
Some vocational training students in the private sector receive state support, but Sekkouri acknowledged the current process is complicated and creates problems for institutes. The ministry is simplifying the procedure and linking support eligibility to the unified social registry.
MWN with MAP
