Mauritania's Minister of Vocational Training and Traditional Industry, Mohamed Mouloud Ould Ayeh, announced that the country's vocational training sector has seen significant expansion in recent years. The sector has witnessed a notable increase in capacity and improvement in training quality. The minister made the remarks during a press conference following a cabinet meeting in Nouakchott.
The minister highlighted that the vocational training sector has seen a 15% increase in available seats over the past year, bringing the total to over 25,000 seats. This represents a substantial increase from 5,000 seats in 2019. The expansion is part of the government's efforts to develop the sector and address the needs of the labor market.
Several projects have been implemented to develop infrastructure and increase capacity in the vocational training sector. These include the completion of the Petroleum, Mining, and Gas School, which has begun operations. Additionally, construction is ongoing for the Commercial High School, with 82% of the work completed, and the Information and Communication School in Nouakchott.
The minister also mentioned that the Higher Education and Training Center has been restructured and transformed into the National Higher Technical Education Institute. The institute offers training programs at the bachelor's and master's levels, in addition to training for instructors. Furthermore, the National Agency for Vocational Training has been established to improve resource utilization and coordination among vocational training institutions.
The new academic year, 2026-2027, will see an increase in the capacity of vocational training institutions from approximately 23,000 to 25,000 seats. The minister emphasized that efforts will continue to improve training quality, including the adoption of institutions in accordance with the national quality reference framework. Seven schools are expected to obtain ISO 21001 certification.
The minister also discussed plans to launch a national program aimed at increasing opportunities for Mauritanian youth to access high-demand professions. The program will be implemented in partnership with the private sector and relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Employment and the National Union of Mauritanian Employers.
In response to a question about access to vocational training for young people without educational certificates or qualifications, the minister explained that the sector has introduced a "competency certificate" that can be obtained in four to nine months. This certificate does not require a specific educational level, unlike some vocational training programs that require a certain level of education.
Key points
- The Mauritanian government has increased the number of available seats in vocational training institutions to 25,000 for the new academic year.
- The vocational training sector has seen a 15% increase in available seats over the past year.
- A national program is planned to increase opportunities for Mauritanian youth to access high-demand professions.