Vocational training in Cameroon
Alongside the technical secondary schools run by the Ministry of Secondary Education, Cameroon has a vocational training network overseen by the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training (MINEFOP). It serves young people who want to learn a trade in a few months or years, early school leavers, and workers who want to upgrade their skills or have their experience recognised.
Information checked on
At a glance
- Supervising ministry
- MINEFOP, created by decree of 8 December 2004
- Governing law
- Law No. 2018/010 of 11 July 2018
- Recognised specialisms
- 228 (MINEFOP website, 2026)
The framework: a ministry and a law
MINEFOP was created by Decree No. 2004/320 of 8 December 2004 and organised by Decree No. 2005/123 of 15 April 2005. It inherited an older system: Law No. 76/12 of 8 July 1976 already organised rapid vocational training. The governing text today is Law No. 2018/010 of 11 July 2018, which makes vocational training a “national priority” and guarantees equal access in both official languages.
- Initial training: acquiring the skills to practise a trade.
- Continuing training: refresher and advanced courses for working professionals.
- Apprenticeship: long-term work-based training split between a company and a centre.
The six types of public centre
| Acronym | Type of centre | Examples listed by MINEFOP |
|---|---|---|
| CFPE | Centres of excellence | Douala, Limbé, Sangmélima |
| CSFP | Sector-specific training centres | — |
| CFM | Trade training centres | — |
| CAP | Apprenticeship centres | — |
| CPFPR | Public rapid vocational training centres | Yaoundé, Garoua, Pitoa, Buea |
| SAR/SM | Rural craft and home economics sections | — |
MINEFOP also runs rapid office-worker training centres (CFPR-EB) in Yaoundé, Buea and Garoua, and the National Centre for Training of Trainers (CNFFDP) in Yaoundé, which opened recruitment for 265 trainers and supervisors in 2026. Approved private centres complete the network. The ministry publishes an annual training calendar shared by public and approved private institutions (2026-2027) and awards national grants; for 2026, applications to the rapid training centres closed on 15 April.
Qualifications, skills recognition and digital training
MINEFOP recognises 228 specialisms, from computing to construction, food processing and hospitality. It provides for the accreditation of prior experience (VAE), which leads to certification on the basis of work experience. With the International Organisation of La Francophonie, the D-CLIC programme has trained 300 people in digital trades.
The qualifications specific to vocational training, such as the professional qualification certificate (CQP) and the professional qualification diploma (DQP), are not described on the MINEFOP pages consulted, so their levels and requirements are not detailed here. The qualifications of school-based technical education (CAP, technical probatoire and baccalauréat) are covered on the technical education page.
The link with jobs
To track what happens to leavers, MINEFOP relies on the Inserjeune platform, which lists more than 15,000 graduates, 350 institutions and 450 partner companies. In November 2025 the ministry launched the JEME programme to train young people and place them in work in rural and urban areas. Job vacancies and self-employment schemes are handled by the National Employment Fund, attached to the same ministry.
The latest official enrolment figure is for 2021-2022: 59,557 trainees, more than 80% of them in private centres, according to the INS report on the education and training sector yearbook. By field, ONEFOP data reported by Ecomatin in May 2021 put about a quarter of trainees in construction, 3% in tourism and less than 1% in agriculture. No recent official figure for the total number of centres (public and private) or for leavers' job placement rate is published online: the website of the National Employment and Vocational Training Observatory (ONEFOP) announces a new version for January 2027. Likewise, data on agricultural training, which falls under other ministries, are not covered here.
Frequently asked questions
Which ministry is in charge of vocational training in Cameroon?
The Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training (MINEFOP), created in 2004. Technical secondary schools come under the Ministry of Secondary Education.
What is a CFPE in Cameroon?
A vocational training centre of excellence, the top category of MINEFOP public centres; there are centres in Douala, Limbé and Sangmélima.
What does SAR/SM stand for?
Rural craft section / home economics section: public institutions training people in local trades, one of the six categories defined by the decree of 9 June 2020.
Which law governs vocational training in Cameroon?
Law No. 2018/010 of 11 July 2018, which makes it a national priority and organises initial training, continuing training and apprenticeships.
Can work experience be turned into a qualification in Cameroon?
Yes, MINEFOP provides for accreditation of prior experience (VAE), leading to an official certification.
Handle with care
The total number of vocational training centres, trainee numbers after 2021-2022, the levels of the CQP and DQP and agricultural training are not documented here: we found no published source. The ONEFOP breakdown by field (2021) and the INS enrolment figure (2021-2022) may not refer to the same year. MINEFOP's online directory lists only 11 public centres, which probably does not reflect the whole network.