Morocco and France launch joint school support programme
Morocco's education sector took a major step forward with the signing of a 134.7 million euro programme between the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the French Development Agency (AFD).
- Programme 2026
- How can diplomatic relations boost education in Morocco?
- Morocco is committed to multilingualism
- Is the development of education in Morocco exponential?
The plan reflects the joint focus on education and human capital development, in line with the 2022-2026 roadmap of the Moroccan National Ministry of Education, Early Childhood Education and Sports. The drafting and signing of this agreement was led by the Minister in charge of the budget, Fouzi Lekjaa, the French ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier, and the director of the AFD in Rabat, Quiterie Pincent.
The programme's budget, which consists of a loan of 130 million euros and a technical assistance grant of 4.7 million euros, represents a new commitment by Rabat to improve and develop the national education system.
Programme 2026
The main objective of the funding is to increase the quality of education, in particular to improve the teaching of French in secondary schools. The plan addresses one of the most worrying issues, the school dropout rate.
Dropping out of school is a problem that affects 30% of all students, especially in rural areas.
The approach devised in the programme focuses on implementing quality secondary schools and strengthening social support services, including transport, school meals, academic support and extracurricular activities.
The programme corresponds to the Moroccan government's education roadmap and is implemented by the Regional Education and Training Fund (AREF). Both have ambitious objectives, especially in terms of closing the educational gap. It also aims to significantly improve students' French language skills.
How can diplomatic relations boost education in Morocco?
The aim of the visit is to strengthen France-Morocco relations, which are going through a tense period. This 134.7 million euro programme opens a new chapter in the educational partnership between France and Morocco. By prioritising quality education and reducing the dropout rate, this plan will create a more equitable and successful education system for young Moroccans.
The cooperation between Morocco and France comes on the heels of a visit by French Foreign Minister Stéphane Sejourné in late February, where he confirmed France's support for Morocco's plan to establish autonomy in Western Sahara and expressed his commitment to move forward in this area.
"The President of the Republic has personally charged me with investing in Franco-Moroccan relations and writing a new chapter in our relations," Sejourné said, referring to ongoing efforts to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
Morocco is committed to multilingualism
Globalisation is a palpable reality in all areas of daily life, and Morocco has found, through the implementation of a multilingual education system, the ideal method to achieve it.
According to Al-Arab, the Minister of Education, Mohamed Zerouali, explained that the aim of the draft law is based on "generalising the teaching of English at certain stages of the public education system."
The aim of the Ministry of Education is to start introducing English in 10% of the first year and 50% of the second year of secondary education from the 2023-2024 school year. In the 2024-2025 cycle, English adoption is expected to reach 50% in the first year and 100% in the second year, before being fully integrated the following year.
Aziz Akhannouch's government aims to introduce English in 100% of grades and secondary schools by the 2025-2026 school year. One year later, in 2027, English is expected to be the dominant language in many subjects, just as French is now.
All these developments respond to the new needs of young Moroccans, who consider English "vital" for educational, professional and cultural opportunities, according to a 2022 report by the British Council. This report highlights that 40% of young people in Morocco consider English to be the most important language.
Is the development of education in Morocco exponential?
The long-term success of Moroccan education depends on the internal implementation of student support programmes and the wider development of Franco-Moroccan relations. Recent diplomatic efforts and educational cooperation are positive signs, but current tensions, particularly over Western Sahara, may still cast a shadow.
Lekjaa stressed the importance of the agreement in promoting this transformation of the education system, which is considered important for Morocco's development, noting that the Pioneer Schools project is, in many ways, essential to these reforms.
Ultimately, it remains to be seen whether this new emphasis on education will pave the way for further reconciliation between the two countries. In his speech, the French Ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier, underlined the strategic position of the reform of the education system within the new development model adopted by Morocco, and stressed the priority of the opportunities offered to this issue in both Morocco and France through the effort to improve the quality of education for the younger generations in both countries.