The Ministry of Vocational Training and Education officially launched the national “Sanaâ” (Trade) program Saturday, a fresh initiative created to equip young individuals with practical skills across multiple vocations heavily sought after in the current job market.
Presiding over the official opening ceremony at the ministry’s headquarters, the Minister of Vocational Training and Education, Nassima Arhab, highlighted the value of this new approach, describing the program as the “inaugural national initiative of its kind scheduled during the summer break.”
“This program represents a milestone as the first national initiative of its type to run during the summer season. It is custom-tailored for youth between the ages of 15 and 27, encompassing schoolchildren, university students, and non-scholastic youth alike,” she stated.
The initiative hones in on six professional fields identified as priority sectors due to their critical demand in the labor force. These specialties include commercial painting, residential electrical wiring, plastering and drywall installation (BA13), plumbing, welding, and commercial refrigeration/HVAC.
According to the minister, the curriculum will rely on a deeply hands-on pedagogical strategy. “The framework implements a methodology rooted in field-based training and the direct mentorship of trainees to ensure they rapidly master the crucial skills needed to practice a trade,” she explained.
“Selecting these specific vocations stems from a strategic vision to grant young people access to applied, rapid, and efficient training, which accelerates their entry into the workforce,” the minister added. She further noted that this pathway is designed to offer recipients viable opportunities for self-employment and the launching of micro-enterprises.
Through this mechanism, sector officials intend to elevate the status of manual and technical professions while giving young people a tangible window to secure qualifications that are in high demand in the contemporary economy.
This launch occurs at a time marked by a sharpening need for certified personnel across multiple industries tied to construction, equipment maintenance, and technical service fields.
Turning to the administrative details of the initiative, the minister indicated that registrations will be handled via a dedicated digital platform open across all provinces of the nation. “Enrollment portals will remain active from May 31 to June 4, 2026,” she noted.
The orientation phase for selected applicants is scheduled to run from June 4 to June 15. As for the technical classes themselves, they will take place from June 15 to July 30, 2026, across the various vocational institutions mobilized for the project. “Training facilities will host the students from June 15 to July 30, 2026,” she concluded.