Praia, Sept. 8, 2025 (Lusa) - The Cabo Verdean government has authorised the delivery of vocational training certificates to almost five thousand trainees who completed courses between 2018 and 2024 and did not receive them due to non-payment of fees, with the aim of promoting employability.
According to Friday's Official Bulletin, "the government authorises the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP) to deliver the certificates to trainees who completed training courses during this period and did not receive them due to non-payment of tuition fees in full".
The measure covers 4,890 trainees and aims to facilitate integration into the labour market, strengthen their negotiating capacity and indirectly support their families.
It also aims to reinforce the dignity and self-esteem of the trainees and regularise debts with the training providers.
The government has recognised that it remains a challenge to guarantee the sustainability of the vocational training system in Cabo Verde, especially with regard to funding training for trainees from low-income families.
"Despite the government's efforts and existing mechanisms, such as the Employment and Training Promotion Fund (FPEF), which covers up to 80% of tuition fees, many trainees continue to have difficulties meeting the financial burden required to obtain their certificates. This situation prevents them from entering the labour market and enhancing the skills they have acquired," said the executive.
A recent survey shows that a significant number of trainees, between 2018 and 2024, completed their vocational training without obtaining their certificates due to outstanding tuition fees.
Also following the extension of free access to vocational training to all levels of the Single Social Registry (CSU), the government considers it necessary to hand over the withheld certificates as a way of guaranteeing equal treatment, promoting social justice and valuing the public investment made in the qualification of thousands of young people and adults.
The government had also announced the extension of free access to vocational training, offering more than 3,000 places from this month, as well as measures to strengthen support for settling university students' tuition fee debts and creating a temporary housing programme and rental grants.
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