Through various public and private training institutions, the Vocational Education Strategy aims to introduce 750,000 graduates into the labour market over the next four years. This will be an increase of 250,000 graduates, compared with the 500,000 students who graduated between 2003 and 2007.

A number of measures will be put into place in order to achieve this target. These measures include the Moroccan government working closely with chambers of commerce, businesses and professional associations, while sector-based vocational training programs will aim at encouraging workplace training.

The Employment and Vocational Training Minister of Morocco, Jamal Aghmani, has emphasised the importance of close co-operation between the vocational education sector and potential employers in order to determine what skills are required on a national basis. Employers are also encouraged to plan and anticipate their future needs in the labour market.

Currently in Morocco, the unemployment problem is not really caused by the lack of jobs, but by the lack of skills in certain areas. With this in mind, under the guidance of a steering committee, research is being undertaken to determine the actual needs of the labour market.

It is believed that the areas most affected by a shortage of skills are tourism, the textile industry, information and communication technology, and agriculture. An effective career guidance system will help young people decide which career path to follow, by establishing what they have an aptitude for.

To meet the training needs of the Vocational Education Strategy, the Moroccan government plans to create 50 new training centres and increase the capacity of the ten existing centres by 2010. In addition, there will be 70 agencies throughout Morocco that will focus on finding employment to suit each graduate’s skill – which will be of benefit both to employers and employees.