Encouraging Malagasy engineers to work at home
Malagasy engineers are widely recognized for their skills and potential on a global scale. However, their numbers remain limited at national level.
Once they have completed their higher education, many Malagasy engineers decide to work abroad. According to the President of the Order of Engineers, « in order to promote Madagascar’s socio-economic progress, it would be necessary to have around 40,000 engineers working in different fields, whereas we only have a third ». Madagascar must face up to this reality if it is to position itself among the dynamic nations. The Madagascar Order of Engineers, in search of solutions, is planning to organize a national congress next October.
At a press conference, the IOM insisted on the importance of renewing the permanent office and studying areas of improvement for future activities. Madagascar is faced with a lack of engineering infrastructure. Only 25 institutions, both public and private, are currently authorized by the IOM to offer engineering degrees. This is too few to meet the country’s educational and professional needs. Some courses are not even available locally, forcing students to pursue their studies abroad.
The president of IOM explains that some of these students decide to go abroad for their studies and do not wish to return to work. He thus highlights a major challenge for the advancement of engineering in Madagascar.