CEFA propose to help reform apprenticeships and youth training in France

To accompany the reform of vocational training initiated by the French government, the Club Economique Franco-Allemand, CEFA, sent the prime minister a memorandum entitled “Learning to boost employment” providing concrete solutions and recommendations to strengthen the apprenticeship training system in France.

 

Created in 2005 at the initiative of French and German business leaders, mainly from the industrial sector, the Franco-German Economic Club aims to be a forum for exchanges between economic leaders with the aim of helping to strengthen economic ties. between the two countries.

 

Fruit of the establishment of a working group made up of personalities from all horizons, the CEFA report seeks to establish a diagnosis of the learning situation in France to make recommendations for the development of this type of vocational training. in particular drawing inspiration from German practice.

 

The CEFA findings on apprenticeships

 

The CEFA notes that France is one of the countries with the lowest employment rate of under-25s, far behind Germany, with nearly 500,000 young people in job-seeking situations.

 

In a synthetic approach, the report makes the following observations on the situation of apprenticeship in France:

 

• The involvement of companies is insufficient in view of their needs and constraints
• The complexity of the state organization and legislation undermines the readability and effectiveness of actions on the ground
• The maladjustment of the operational integration and the participation of apprentices in enterprises to the needs of young people and employers
• The obsession with the diploma in France is at the expense of the prestige of learning
• The funding process is inadequate and the economic record of mixed learning
• Younger people have few opportunities to participate in the professional world by testing trades

 

Proposed solutions to encourage and develop apprenticeships

 

The CEFA wishes to encourage the development of apprenticeship training to boost youth employment and recommends the implementation of six main measures:

 

• Position the company as a central player in the organizational scheme of vocational training
• Make the Ministry of Labour the only framework institution for vocational training and guarantee its organizational and legislative stability
• Promote the professional integration of people in apprenticeship by extending the duration of their contracts and by reviewing the pace of practices in the company
• Creation of a title or diploma recognized by the State
• Simplify funding channels and help with learning programs
• Creation of a professional option in college