Apprentissage et les apprentis dans les petits metiers urbains: le cas de l'Afrique francophone

In the first part, Maldonado examines the phenomenon of informal sector apprenticeship, based on surveys in Bamako,Lome, Nouakchott and Yaounde undertaken from 1977 to 1979. He analyses, after vocational training, the functioning of the apprenticeship, describing how the extended family and other social values influence recruitment procedures and the choice of trade. The content, methodology and working conditions of apprentices are shown to reflect the contradiction of paternalism and competition, inherent in the apprenticeship system. Next, demand and supply of apprentice training are examined and finally result of training is compared with other training modes. In the second part, Le Boterf deals specifically with apprentices of the Bamako project. Through a participatory survey, he studies the realities of this training: numerical strength of apprentices, working conditions, increasing proportion of educated entrants, criteria for recruitment and conditions of training. Existing training institutes do not correspond to the needs of the informal sector. Existing apprentices prefer to become self-employed but fear the initial costs. Finally, recommendations on ways to improve training by training of masters, exchange of apprentices, and promotion of collective action