In France today most initial vocational training is delivered within the school system, in the lycees professionnels (vocational lycees) and the technological streams of general lycees. Historically this characteristic feature of the French system came about at the end of the 19th century as a result of the educational policy of the Third Republic in conjunction with the needs of the mechanical engineering and electrical engineering industries. From the 1960s on, the standing of this training system suffered as it systematically took in pupils who had failed in general secondary education. For their part, employers who originally supported the State's efforts when there was a shortage of skilled labour have sought to regain control over training in a contemporary situation where labour is plentiful and flexibility desired. The future of such training is uncertain and new forms of collaboration between enterprises and vocational and technical training establishments are gradually emerging. (Contains 3 footnotes.)