New VET programs in Ceuta and Melilla from 2026/2027: which programs are being implemented

Key data

Public centers in Ceuta and Melilla are launching an expanded face-to-face Vocational Training offer starting in the 2026/2027 academic year. The Order EFD/619/2026, published on June 19, 2026, authorizes the implementation of VET programs in face-to-face modality that were not previously available in both autonomous cities. The measure responds to demands identified directly by the Provincial Directorates of Ceuta and Melilla, and has a direct impact on the local labor market.

For local companies, the expansion of training offerings represents a pool of better-qualified workers in key sectors of both cities' economies. For workers and unemployed persons, it opens flexible and stackable pathways toward higher qualifications.

What does this regulation establish?

Order EFD/619/2026 authorizes the implementation of new VET programs in face-to-face modality in public centers in Ceuta and Melilla. Three levels of training programs are contemplated, as well as professional certificates. The authorized areas of knowledge are as follows:

The pathways are flexible, stackable and progressive: a student can start at basic level and advance to advanced level without losing what has already been completed. This is especially relevant for active workers who want to improve their qualifications without abandoning their employment.

The measure also has the explicit objective of reducing early school leaving in both autonomous cities, which historically present rates higher than the national average.

Economic and operational impact

The regulation does not establish direct costs for private companies: the investment falls on the public administration, which finances the centers and the implementation of the programs. However, the operational impact for the local business sector is significant:

• Greater availability of qualified profiles in sectors with high local demand: hospitality, construction, administration and IT.
• Reduction in internal training costs for companies that hire VET graduates, as they incorporate workers with already certified competencies.
• Access to workers with professional certificates in photovoltaic solar energy, a growing sector in both cities.
• Stackable pathways that allow active workers to train without interrupting their work activity, reducing training absenteeism.

For workers and unemployed persons themselves, the free nature of public centers eliminates the economic barrier to accessing professional qualifications.

Who does it affect?

• Young people in Ceuta and Melilla seeking initial professional qualification through basic or intermediate level programs.
• Active workers in sectors such as hospitality, construction, administration or IT who want to improve their qualification level.
• Unemployed persons in both autonomous cities who need a qualification to access the labor market.
• Local companies in the hospitality, construction, administration, IT, personal image, solar energy and sociocultural services sectors, which will be able to recruit better-trained profiles.
• Public VET centers in Ceuta and Melilla, which will need to organize and launch the new programs from September 2026.
• Provincial Education Directorates of Ceuta and Melilla, responsible for managing and coordinating the implementation.

Practical example

A 17-year-old in Melilla who has dropped out of secondary school can enroll in the new Basic Level Hospitality program at a public center from September 2026. Upon completion, they obtain an official qualification that allows them to access the local labor market directly or continue toward the Intermediate Level Hospitality program without losing the credits already earned.

In parallel, an active worker at a construction company in Ceuta can enroll in the new Photovoltaic Solar Energy program in face-to-face modality, combining the schedule with their work hours. Upon obtaining the professional certificate, they improve their employability and can apply for positions of greater technical responsibility at no tuition cost since it is a public center.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify which programs are being implemented in your sector: review which professional families are activated in Ceuta or Melilla (administration, hospitality, IT, construction, solar energy, personal image, sociocultural services) and assess whether they are relevant to your workforce or hiring needs.
2. Contact the Provincial Education Directorates of Ceuta or Melilla to learn about the specific centers where the new programs will be offered and enrollment deadlines from September 2026.
3. Plan training for active workers: if you have employees without qualifications in the affected sectors, inform them about the possibility of enrolling in the new free face-to-face programs as a qualification pathway.
4. Update hiring profiles: from the 2026/2027 academic year there will be a new cohort of VET graduates in both cities. Anticipate your recruitment needs in the covered sectors.
5. Consider collaboration agreements with VET centers for workplace internships (FCT), which allow access to training talent and reduce selection costs.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-13355