Senegal Vocational Education

Senegal's education system follows a structure similar to the French system, with pre-primary, primary, lower secondary, upper secondary, and higher education levels. Lower secondary education (collège) spans four years, culminating in the Brevet d'Études du Premier Cycle (BEPC) exam at the end of 9th grade.

Secondary education offers several streams: general, long technical, short technical, and professional. Vocational education and training is a priority for the Senegalese government, with a goal of 30% of primary school leavers entering vocational programs. Vocational schools typically offer three or four-year programs with practical training in areas like agriculture, business, health, and other trades.

While specific details about the 9th-grade vocational curriculum are not readily available, vocational training programs often begin after the 9th grade. These programs may last two to three years and cover sectors such as industry, construction, agriculture, and services. The Senegal National Vocational Qualifications Framework (NVQF) has five levels, governed by two ministries. There are initiatives to incorporate transferable skills, entrepreneurship, and work readiness into lower secondary schools and vocational training programs. UNESCO supports a bilingual vocational training project for out-of-school youth.