Fight Against Unemployment: Gov’t Presses For Concerted Action

The Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training will in the days ahead host a broad-based consultative meeting with stakeholders in the domain of training and job creation in a bid to speed up the fight against unemployment in the country. Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary made the announcement during a New Year wishes ceremony the ministry organised in Yaounde on February 1.

He said the meeting which will bring together, multilateral and bilateral partners, employers, wealth creators, professional corps, and ministries involved in training as well as university dons, is intended to spur debates on skill-oriented education and training and how it can guarantee employment and job creation for the youth.

Minister Tchiroma made it clear that the concerted action is needed in the fight against unemployment because the regulation of outflows of school leavers through vocational trainings and apprenticeships as required by the education sector strategy no longer seem to be achievable in the current institutional and legal system, despite the new commendable law of July 11, 2018 governing vocational training in Cameroon. He also pointed out that recruitment of citizens in the public sector remains important but not sufficient to significantly curb joblessness among graduates.

While enjoining the staff of his ministry to invest their entire professional prowess in the fight against unemployment, Minister Tchiroma outlined laudable initiatives already taken in that direction. He cited among others; the creation of vocational training excellence centres in Douala, Limbe and Sangmelima, construction of the institute for development and training of trainers in Yaounde, construction and equipment of a training centre for textiles and public works professionals in Yaounde, among others.

Meanwhile discussions in an annual conference that brought together staff from MINEFOP’s cent...