HM King Mohammed VI inaugurated on Thursday in the town of Ben Ahmed (province of Settat) the Institute of Applied Technology (ISTA) in order to ensure the qualification of the young people of the region and facilitate their access to the labour market.
On this occasion, the King was briefed on the institute, created as part of the efforts of the Office of the Vocational Training and the Promotion of Work (OFPPT), aiming at reinforcing its presence in the Chaouia-Tadla region, which experiences a growing development.
The institute, extending over 6,000 m2, has been earmarked a total of MAD 14.6 million.
It has received this year 356 trainees in different fields: 23% (specialised technician), 42% (technician) and 25% (qualification). The reception capacity of the institute will amount to 500 trainees next academic year (2006-2007).
Concerning the IT services, the ISTA of Ben Ahmed is similar to other institutes of professional training belonging to the OFPPT and contributes to accompanying the enterprises working in the region in recruitment, qualification of human resources and development of competences of the employees through evening courses and continued training.
After having unveiled the commemorative plaque and cut a symbolic ribbon, the King visited the various facilities of the institute which includes six workshops, specialised rooms, administrative complex and different technical and pedagogical equipment.
The Institute gives trainings in ten specialties concerning the professions that are related to the data processing and communication technology, services, and clothes industry.
It will be reinforced by the construction of a boarding school of a reception capacity of 120 beds, which is likely to improve the conditions of the young trainees registered in the institutes of professional training.
The boarding school extends over 6.000 m2, and has been allocated a total of MAD 9 million, MAD 6 million of which will be ensured by the OFPPT, and MAD 3 million by the Chaouia-Tadla region.
The creation of other boarding schools for rural girls is also programmed, as well as the extension of the existing boarding schools in Khouribga and Settat to meet the increasing needs on the training centers of the region.
On this occasion, the King decorated with Royal Wissams the General Manager of the OFPPT, Larbi Bencheikh, the Director of Human Resources of the OFPPT, Lahcen Lamallam, the Director of the Research and Training Engineering in Casablanca, Said Slaoui, the Director of the Tansift-Atlantique region, Abderrahim Bennani, and the Director of the Chaouia-Tadla-Settat region, Hassan Malat.
The King also inaugurated the "Tamesna" dam in Ben Ahmed, Settat (about 160Km south-eastern Rabat), and enquired about a programme to set up a four-dam hydraulic complex to protect the regions of Berrechid and Nouaceur (central west) from floods.
The Tamesna dam is due to regulate a volume of 10 million m2 of water to provide drinking water to Ben Ahmed, El Gara and neighboring rural regions, and meet the needs of irrigation.
The dam has been allocated MAD 330 million (USD 36.6 million), including the construction of roads, and the purchasing of the needed land.
As to the hydraulic complex, which will cost MAD 980 million (USD 108.8 million), it consists of four dams (Al Himer, Mazer, Tamedroust and Koudiat Al Garn) that will be constructed by late 2009.
The dams are also designed to feed the Berrechid ground water, which runs on an area of 1,500 m2.
On his arrival, the Monarch was greeted by a detachment of the Royal Guards. He was also greeted by Minister of Employment and Professional Training, Mustapha El Mansouri, the Wali of the Chaouia-Ouardigha region and Governor of the Settat Province, Mohamed Ali Adhmi, and the General Manager of the OFPPT, Larbi Bencheikh.
© Morocco Times 2006
