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1. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in July 2001. It refers to the diverse and tragic situations experienced by youth from underprivileged backgrounds, which take the form of the failure of a proportion of children of school age to attend school, with some dropping out of school during the first and second education cycles. The Government also states that it would in practice be necessary to multiply by over 40 the current supply of vocational training to respond to the demand from the burgeoning category of 2,603,000 young persons (of whom 54 per cent are girls) of students who have not achieved the required educational level to gain access to a normal cycle of vocational training. The Government indicates that it is aware of the efforts that remain to be made in the development of the network and alternative forms of delivery to make vocational training accessible to all. Recalling its direct request in 2001 on the application of the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122), the Committee trusts that in its report on the application of Convention No. 142 due in 2003, the Government will be in a position to indicate the programmes which have been implemented to encourage and enable all persons, on an equal basis and without any discrimination whatsoever, to develop and use their capabilities for work (Article 1, paragraph 5, of the Convention). Please also describe the results achieved by the programmes that are currently being implemented (retraining using the benefits of the National Unemployment Insurance Fund, assistance for the integration of vocational trainees) and indicate the manner in which the factors mentioned in Article 1, paragraphs 2 to 4, have been taken into account.

2. With reference to its previous direct request, the Committee requests the Government to provide with its next report extracts of relevant reports, studies and inquiries concerning the vocational training and guidance policies and programmes carried out by the National Advisory Vocational Training Council and the wilaya vocational training commissions. Please also provide information on the manner in which the collaboration of employers’ and workers’ organizations is ensured in the formulation of policies and programmes (Article 5).

3. The Committee notes with interest the action referred to by the Government in its report for the vocational training of physically disabled persons. It requests the Government to continue providing information on the impact of these measures. In this respect, the Government may find it useful to refer to the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention (No. 159) and Recommendation (No. 168), 1983, and the code of practice on managing disability in the workplace, adopted by the ILO Governing Body in November 2001.

4. The Government also refers in its report to the prospects for cooperation between the ILO and the Ministry of Vocational Training. Among the main reforms of the vocational training system, the Government refers to the matching of proposed training programmes with trends in occupations and employment, and the development of an environment of inter-sectoral dialogue, cooperation and coordination with a view to adapting training activities to social and economic changes. The Committee hopes that the Government will also be in a position to indicate any action taken as a result of the assistance and advice provided by the ILO’s competent technical services with a view to promoting the development of human resources, in accordance with the Convention and other relevant instruments (Part V of the report form).