Official Launch of the 2026-2027 Training Year
On September 7, 2026, the Office for Vocational Training and Employment Promotion (OFPPT) officially inaugurated the 2026-2027 training year at the Cité des Métiers et des Compétences in Casablanca-Settat. This new academic year is particularly noteworthy as it will see the opening of 18 new institutions, an expansion of educational offerings, and an enhancement of the Cité des Métiers et des Compétences program. The launch ceremony was attended by key figures including Loubna Tricha, General Director of the OFPPT, representatives from the vocational training department under the Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Enterprises, Employment, and Skills, as well as local authorities and industry professionals.
Expanded Educational Offerings and Infrastructure Improvements
The OFPPT operates a vast network of 513 institutes, boasting an overall capacity of 424,000 training placements. For the upcoming year, first-year trainees will have access to 146,637 places for diploma training and 121,402 places for qualification training, with classes commencing on September 11. The OFPPT is committed to enhancing its educational map, which now encompasses 658 programs, including 342 diploma tracks, 293 qualification tracks, and 23 professional pathways across 19 sectors. In total, 193 programs are either newly introduced or updated, featuring 39 new creations, 26 restructured programs, and 128 updates aimed at better aligning vocational training with the Kingdom's sectoral priorities, such as employment, energy transition, sustainable development, industrial sovereignty, tourism, gaming, and cybersecurity.
The 2026-2027 academic year also continues the roadmap for the development of vocational training, particularly focusing on an integrated upgrade of the existing infrastructure and operational excellence. The OFPPT plans five expansions and seven upgrades of existing institutions, including the establishment of a boarding facility at ITA Taza and renovations at ISTA Sefrou.
Moreover, the OFPPT is intensifying its efforts to assist youth in navigating their professional paths. The vocational guidance system will feature 75 Professional Guidance Centers (COP), with the addition of four new centers. Thirteen more COPs are expected to be established throughout the training year to enhance territorial coverage and support for candidates, trainees, and graduates. The OFPPT anticipates training 31,000 apprentice trainees under the TADAROJ program, focusing on high-potential sectors such as electrical engineering, construction, automotive, tourism, hospitality, textiles, refrigeration, thermal engineering, and mechanical engineering.
Additionally, the OFPPT is progressively realizing the Cité des Métiers et des Compétences program, which is the second project outlined in the roadmap presented to the King on April 4, 2019. Three new CMCs will open this year in the regions of Guelmim-Oued Noun, Fès-Meknès, and Drâa-Tafilalet, bringing the total number of operational CMCs to 12. The CMC in Casablanca-Settat, located on a 20-hectare site in Nouaceur, aims to be a flagship model, offering 5,213 educational placements, including 3,838 reserved for diploma training, tailored to the needs of the regional economic ecosystem.
Designed through a collective intelligence approach, the CMC's offerings revolve around nine professional poles and 111 programs. The institution focuses on an immersive pedagogical approach based on active experimentation and application platforms that replicate real business environments. These platforms encompass various industries, including a training factory for manufacturing, a pedagogical farm for agriculture, and facilities for tourism and hospitality, digital and artificial intelligence, management and commerce, personal services, graphic arts, crafts, and agro-industry. Additionally, the CMC features communal spaces to complement technical learning, including co-working areas, a Fab Lab, a Digital Factory, an incubator, language and soft skills centers, a media library, and a conference center. The goal is to integrate skill acquisition with personal development and preparation for professional integration.
Lastly, the institution includes various living spaces, such as a trainee residence with a capacity of 700 beds, a cafeteria, meeting areas, and sports facilities. This initiative by the OFPPT aims to present vocational training not only as a means to enhance employability but also as a comprehensive learning environment that addresses the needs of youth and the job market.
As reported by ecoactu.ma.
