Vocational training

Preparation for working life

Are you wondering what life will be like for you after school, for example in vocational training or self-employment? Would you like information to help you prepare?

The APTE-Senegal project (Amélioration des Performances de Travail et d’Entreprenariat) supports you with the transition between school and working life:

• You can take part in training that is designed to help you meet employers' expectations.  
• You can learn technical and practical skills for working life (through work placements, courses, open days, and more). In some regions, the focus is on agriculture, while in others, it’s on mining and industry.
• You can exchange ideas with representatives from the private sector.
• You’ll learn more about the demands of working life.
• You can join entrepreneurship clubs that enhance your career.

 
This project is being run at 50 technical and vocational colleges and at 200 middle schools in the following six regions: Diourbel, Kédougou, Kolda, Sédhiou, Thiès and Ziguinchor.  

The project is implemented in cooperation with partners such as the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and local partners (Caritas Kolda, Caritas Ziguinchor, Jeunesse et Développement and YMCA).

Vocational reintegration

The French migration agency in Senegal, OFII, provides help with starting a business and launching a new career.

Their services include:

• Training courses on business start-ups
• Training courses on personal and career development
• Help with finding suitable job offers
• Job placement

Training and starting a business

The Senegalese association CONFESEN helps people with training and starting a business. Their aim is to reduce poverty in Senegal.

Their services include:

• Vocational training
• Placement in “green jobs”, for example through traineeships or qualifications
• Help with starting a business, for example by preparing business plans

Advice and technical training

You can do an initial training or skills development course in a technical field at the Centre de Formation Professionnelle et Technique Senegal/Japon (Vocational and Technical Training Centre of Senegal/Japan (CFPT)) in Dakar. You could train to become an industrial maintenance engineer (computer science, electricity, mechanics). Trainers should first pass their entrance examinations. There are also skills development courses for engineers, skilled tradespeople and trainers. You can gain a range of different qualifications at CFPT.

They will advise you on the options. You will find all the information you need for your application on the website. You will have to pay a fee for the course each year.

Funding for young people

3FPT was set up by the government. It helps young women and men to pay for their training.

You can apply for a voucher to train for a job. Applicants must be between 16 and 35 years of age. Training is available in the following areas:

• information technology and communication; here you will learn how phones work, for example
• mechanics
• skilled trades
• sport
• culture
• tourism
• horticulture
• poultry farming
• farming
• construction
• logistics.

3FPT has offices in the following places:

• Dakar
• Diourbel
• Saint-Louis
• Tambacounda
• Ziguinchor.

Training for the construction industry

The Centre Sectoriel de Formation Professionnelle aux Métiers du Bâtiment et des Travaux Publics (Sectoral Centre for Vocational Training for the Building Trade and Public Works (CSFP-BTP)) in Bargny provides the training young women and men need to find work in construction. The Centre also helps them to find jobs and training courses. There are, for example, training and skills development courses in welding, solar technology and site management.

You have to be under 30 years of age. You have the option of taking an entrance examination. If you pass the exam, the training is free of charge. Or you can pay for the training.