The government's ambition, as part of the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2026–2030, is to increase the share of students enrolled in technical and vocational education from the current 6% to 10% by 2030, and then to 15% by 2035. The plan also includes the construction of 100 new institutions and the rehabilitation of 55 existing ones.
The announcement was made by the Minister Delegate in charge of Technical Education, Jean-Louis Moulot, on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Abidjan-Plateau, during Gouv'Talk, an online discussion platform that brings together government officials and internet users. The initiative is organized by the Government Information and Communication Centre (CICG).
"Technical and vocational education now occupies a strategic place in public policy. By 2030, we want a technical education system that is more attractive, more modern, more inclusive, more closely connected to businesses, and fully recognized as a pathway to excellence. Today, only about 6% of students are enrolled in technical education. The Ivorian government has therefore set an ambitious but realistic objective of increasing this proportion to 10% by 2030 and to 15% by 2035," Jean-Louis Moulot said.
To achieve this ambition, the minister explained that several major reforms have already been launched.
These include a significant expansion of enrollment capacity across the country to bring training opportunities closer to local communities and reduce regional disparities.
The government is also modernizing educational institutions through investments in upgrading technical facilities, acquiring modern equipment, expanding digital infrastructure, establishing specialized laboratories, and creating learning environments that reflect real workplace conditions.
Training programs are being progressively revised to better match the actual needs of the labor market, ensuring that graduates acquire the skills sought by employers.
Jean-Louis Moulot also highlighted stronger collaboration between schools and businesses through the launch of the Industry–Technical and Vocational Education Pact, an initiative designed to develop vocational training by directly involving companies in identifying required skills, hosting interns, implementing work-study programs, designing curricula, and facilitating graduate employment.
"We now have 164 companies that have placed their trust in us by signing the Industry–Technical and Vocational Education Pact," he said.
The minister also discussed reforms aimed at promoting the inclusion of girls in technical education.
"We have signed an ambitious roadmap with UN Women to promote a more inclusive educational environment, combat gender-based violence, and increase girls' access to technical fields of study. We have also established a strategic partnership with the Pathfinder Foundation to encourage more young women to pursue STEM fields—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—with the goal of developing a new generation of highly skilled Ivorian women capable of contributing fully to the country's economic and industrial transformation."
Addressing young people and parents, the minister concluded:
"Choosing technical and vocational education today means choosing practical training, valuable skills, careers with strong future prospects, and the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the development of our country."