Abstract
Context of craft apprenticeship. In Benin, access to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is conditional on finishing the second year of secondary school, equivalent to completing nine years of education. However, among 5- to 17-year-olds, the median years in education is four. As a result, only 5 per cent of secondary age youth are in TVET, totalling around 50,000 young people. However, net enrolment among 12- to 19-year-olds is only around 35 per cent. All the other young people have no other choice but to turn to the informal sector to acquire skills through traditional apprenticeship, which allows them to enter the labour market. It is estimated that these young people in apprenticeships number more than 300,000. Craftspersons in Benin are represented at national level by the National Confederation of Artisans in Benin (CNAB), which has divisions (groups) at the level of department and municipality. In addition, there is the Benin Union of Interdepartmental Chambers of Trade (UCIM-B) at national level, and the departmental chambers of trade at departmental level.