Experience of public institutions in professional training and employability of socially vulnerable persons: case of Bepanda Multifunctional Center

Abstract

The question of quality Vocational Training (VT) linked to employability is acute despite the numerous reforms and actions that have been undertaken over the past few decades (AFDB, 2023). To remedy this, the Cameroonian Government created the Bepanda Multifunctional Center intended for the VT and employability of Socially Vulnerable Persons (PSV).

However, the exploratory investigation reveals some pitfalls that generate a problem of the real diagnosis of the impact of public training centers in the adequacy between the VT practices provided to PSVs and employability requirements. The objective of this research is to understand, identify and even evaluate the real contribution of VT practices to the employability of PSVs. The research methodology is qualitative with a single site case study carried out by a purposive sampling with semi structured individual interviews leading to a content analysis.

The results reveal a mixed picture due to the mismatch between VT and the employability of PSVs, consequently leading to their low employability in the formal sector, failures of entrepreneurial initiatives that generate little income in the informal sector, extreme precariousness further complicating their social inclusion among others. There are some prospects for improvements related to the reorganization of VT practices and the permanent support of PSVs regarding their employability. Finally, this article contributes to the increasement of avenues for reflection treating some debates like social justice in terms of skills development in the areas of human resource management, sociology of vulnerabilities and social economy.

Key words: Practices, vocational training, socially vulnerable persons, employability, public institutions.

JEL classification: D73, E60

Paper type: Empirical research