Continuous Apprenticeship Programme

To improve the training environment in Egypt, the ILO Subregional office for North Africa, Cairo launched the Continuous Apprenticeship Programme. This programme is a dual system of training. Training is provided for skills in high demand for three years and is structured as follows:

• During the first and second year training is provided within training centers (24h/week of practical training).
• During the third year, students undergo on-the-job training in a company through an apprenticeship training contract.

At the end of those three years, graduates obtain a diploma that is recognized by the Ministry of Education, are treated equally with those who graduated from technical secondary schools, and are considered "skilled workers".

Pilot projects were established in 2001 in three governorates: Beni Suef, El Fayoum and El Gharbia (el Mahala el Kobra).Each pilot project has a National Steering Committee, a Local Steering Committee and a Management Unit. Graduates also receive tool kits related to their occupation, to encourage them to become self-employed.

Its implementation is monitored closely, through:

• Quarterly Reports
• Field visits
• Follow up meetings

Pilot projects have been expanding in terms of number of governorates using this approach and number of youth trained.