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Projects overviewVocational education and training programme in Peru
A successful model ensuring access to the labour market
Project completed
 Two-thirds of the Peruvian labour force is unemployed or underemployed, which is one of the reasons why the vocational education and training (VET) system is less developed in this country. The SDC’s VET programme in Peru, which is run by the Centro de Servicios para la Capacitación Laboral y el Desarrollo (CAPLAB), has managed to establish a suitable VET system for disadvantaged young people and women in only a short period of time. This system was set up in conjunction with Peru’s Ministry of Education and its Ministry of Labour and is designed to match needs of the market. Young people and women without formal education and training have very few prospects in Peru. The only opportunity they have to gain technical skills is to attend one of the 1,000 public VET centres run by the Ministry of Education. Unlike private schools, the courses offered by these public VET centres are free of charge and open to just about anyone, even the poor. However, the level of education and training provided is low and public VET centres do not enjoy a good reputation in the eyes of employers. Vocational qualifications for young people and women The CAPLAB programme was launched in 1996 with the aim of helping young people and women obtain vocational qualifications that matched their specific situation in life. In many cases, the members of this target group work to support their families while attending VET courses. It is therefore important that VET courses correspond to the actual needs of the labour market and the requirements of the regional economic structure. Working with CAPLAB, the SDC has helped reform Peru’s VET system. This was made possible thanks to close cooperation with partners at the national level, with Peru’s Ministry of Education and its Ministry of Labour as well as with various VET centres and companies. Success of the CAPLAB model Convinced of the validity of the CAPLAB model, the Peruvian government is currently working with the SDC to include the CAPLAB model in its national VET and labour market policies. Several CAPLAB centres specialising in such fields as textile processing, metalworking, carpentry and foodstuffs have been created in the meantime. All in all, some 8,000 people have already completed their training at these CAPLAB centres. Roughly half of these people found employment immediately after completing their course of studies. Former students regularly return to CAPLAB centres to attend continuing education and training courses while working. The CAPLAB model has been so effective because it is based on a modular-based structure where courses of study are built around the specific situation of socially disadvantaged young people. Even the teacher training courses based on the CAPLAB model have had a very positive impact: thus far about 4,700 people have completed basic and continuing teacher training and enjoy the benefits of the CAPLAB model. Another important aspect of the CAPLAB approach is job placement: there are 52 job placement offices open to everyone, not just students of the CAPLAB centre. These job placement offices make it easier for people to find jobs on the labour market. With the system of franchising and transfer of experience to the new pilot regions, which include rural areas, the number of VET centres using the successful CAPLAB model has increased even more. A recent impact study reported that over half of the former students of CAPLAB courses found suitable jobs with employers (in the comparison group, the percentage was only 20%) and around 15% were self-employed. Former students enjoyed better working conditions, higher wages and greater social stability, which has improved living conditions and opportunities for their families. |
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The project in brief Divisions Regional Cooperation Country / Region Peru Partners Peruvian Ministry of Education, Peruvian Ministry of Labour; Implementing organization: Centro de Servicios para la Capacitación Laboral y el Desarrollo (CAPLAB) Project aims The CAPLAB programme was launched in 1996 with the aim of helping young people and women obtain vocational qualifications that matched their specific situation in life. In many cases, the members of this target group have to work to support their families while attending VET courses. It is therefore important that VET courses correspond to the actual needs of the labour market and the requirements of the regional economic structure. Target group Young people and women Duration 1996–2008 Budget Expenditures for 2006-08: CHF 2.2 million (excl. expenditures made by partners) Contact SDC, Latin America Department |