B: Balancing Job Applications and Vocational Training 181- In addition to clarifying the choice of the national policy, preparation of the vocational training normative framework done in 2018 falls in line with the determination to consolidate the vocational training institutional environment, stepping up the public and private vocational training offer and the implementation of incentives and appropriate attendant measures. 1: Vocational Training as a National Priority 182- Section 2 (1) of Law No. 2018/10 of 11 July 2018 governing vocational training in Cameroon provides: “The State shall grant vocational training a national priority status.” The intention, through balancing training and employment, is to meet the priorities of the national economy. 183- The guiding principles in the implementation of the national vocational training policy include equal access and training opportunities at the social level, equity with the inclusion of women and persons with disabilities, vocational flexibility and permeability of fields or transparency of the vocational training system, involvement of partners of the socioprofessional areas in the their preparation, validation and implementation. 184- In a bid to promote the increase and diversification of the vocational training offer, the law provides that private partners be able to provide support through either financing or establishment of vocational training facilities. Besides, in the preparation and consistency of the said policy, the law referred to above provides for the establishment of a National Orientation and Vocational Training Council in charge of monitoring-evaluation of the implementation of the vocational training policy and strategies. 2 : Reorganization of the National Employment and Vocational Training Observatory (NEVTO) 185- Order No. 109/PM of 22 September 2016 reorganised NEVTO by transforming it into a real information structure on employment and vocational training in Cameroon. NEVTO comprises operational structures135 that enable it to guide the decision-making body, and it is henceforth financed by different sources136. The budget of NEVTO wavered between CFAF61,900,000,000137 in 2013, CFAF59,000,000,000138 in 2014 and 139 CFAF57,000,000,000 in 2015. 3: Consolidation of Public and Private Vocational Training Offer 186- Balancing training and economic needs was implemented through the professionalization of education at the secondary school and university levels (see analysis on 135 The Steering Committee that meets at least twice a year in ordinary sessions, brings together representatives from different administrations in charge of the development sector where demand for labour is recurrent; institutions in charge of statistics, vocational training, job placement; representatives from chambers of commerce; and representatives from professional organizations and trade unions. The permanent secretariat comprises 3 units: a Unit for Studies and Research, a Unit for Cooperation, Documentation and Broadcast, and a Unit for Administration and Finance. Besides, to guarantee the effectiveness of a reliable information system in the area of employment and vocational training, NEVTO has a national data collection network that comprises ministerial, regional and divisional focal points. 136 As per Order No. 7/PM of 13 February 2002, NEVTO comprised representatives of different stakeholders in charge of monitoring issues relating to employment and vocational training. It also had a Secretariat. The current budget votes of NEVTO were borne by the budget of the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training (MINEFOP) 137 About 94,503,816.8 Euros. 138 About 242,748 ,92 Euros. 139 About 87,022,900.8 euros. 38