Many different governmental bodies have some responsibility for vocational education training (VET) in Syria. There are efforts to co-ordinate the efforts of these bodies, but Syria does not currently have an overall government-approved VET strategy. The governmental objectives of the sector are embedded in the ministries’ medium and short-term plans.

Due to economic reforms, the educational system in Syria is becoming more market-oriented, and this trend is reflected in the VET objectives mentioned in the government’s five year plan.

The objectives are to:

			Produce a highly qualified, regionally and internationally competitive labour force
			Develop and expand high quality education in the field of public, vocational and technical education through a full review of the educational process, different levels, and proven effective techniques
			Introduce new vocations, develop existing vocations, and reduce others according to labour market needs
			Concentrate on the practical and applied sides of vocational and technical education in coordination with the private sector
			Encourage private sector participation in investment in vocational and technical education.

The government has implemented many programmes and projects according to these objectives and taken action at a strategic, organisational and executive level. However, a substantial amount of work is still needed to develop the VET system in order for the government to achieve its ambitions.