Status of Education Report

Historically, Morocco is a country that has lacked in one of the most important features

of a successful nation—education. The education system in Morocco has improved exponentially

in recent years—under the rule of King Mohammed VI; yet, there is still an abundance of

improvements that need to be made. Expressly, adjustments must be made to the budget for

education, the qualifications of teachers, and the inequality between males and females in

Moroccan schools.

Similar to many countries, Morocco has not been kind to women throughout history;

however, extensive, critical changes have been made in the past two decades. In great part thanks

to King Mohammed VI, girls are now allowed in schools and are receiving a life-changing

education. Yet, despite these progressive advancements, there continues to be a disparity

between males and females. For example, “only around half of girls [enroll in] secondary school,

compared to nearly two-thirds of boys” and “68% of 15-24-year-old women [are] able to read

and write, compared to 85% of young men” (Education & Jobs). These numbers illustrate a large

gap between the amount of schooling and the literacy rate between men and women. Despite

improvements in recent history, this is an issue that must be addressed and irradiated.

Another issue with the education system in Morocco is the high dropout rates. In

Morocco only primary school is required, and “only 53 percent of students enrolled in middle

school continue on to high school and less than 15 percent of first grade students are likely to

graduate from high school” (Education). These statistics are difficult to comprehend and

highlight the failures of Morocco’s education system. Furthermore, there are many factors that

play a role in such a high dropout rate and one of the most significant and influential is the

government’s budget for schools.

 The budget for schools has a major effect on many different aspects of the schools. In

Morocco, a primary issue is that “the government doesn’t equip schools with the technological

devices, such as, laptops, tablets, data-show, and the printing machines” (Moroccan Educational

System: Problems and Solutions). In today’s modern age of technology, these devices and

resources are necessary in the education setting. It is extremely difficult to be successful in

today’s society if one is not well versed in modern technology. In addition, the teachers in

Morocco are paid a very small salary, and, as a result, many search for a higher income in other

professions. Consequently, there is an “overcrowding of students in the classrooms” (Moroccan

Educational System: Problems and Solutions), and it is extremely challenging for teachers to be

successful in their lesson if there are too many students in one classroom. Furthermore, the more

children in the class, the more likely the children are to mess around and disturb class. All in all,

such a low budget for education leads to an abundance of issues.

Overall, there is a lot of work remaining in Morocco when it comes to the three priorities

of the global education initiative. The first priority is ensuring that every child is in school, and—

despite recent improvements—Moroccan children do not all attend school, especially following

primary school. Furthermore, the quality of learning in Morocco has lots of room for

improvement. The schools are overcrowded and the teachers are not adequately paid, thus

resulting in a less than desirable school setting. In addition, it very difficult for Moroccan school

systems to foster global citizenship because they do not have the necessary means and materials

to be successful. In short, the advancements of Morocco’s school system should not be ignored,

but there are many steps that still must be taken for success.
 Levels of Education in Morocco

This pie chart illustrates the high dropout rates in Morocco in 2005 for those who

traveled abroad. As can be seen, over eighteen percent have no education at all and over twenty

percent only attended primary school. These are extremely high percentages.
 Number of Enrolled Students

This chart illustrated the major increase of students attending school in Morocco. A large

part of this increase can be credited to the inclusion of females in schools.

 References

Education & Jobs. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2018, from http://www.our-

africa.org/morocco/education-jobs

Education | Morocco. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2018, from

https://www.usaid.gov/morocco/education

Moroccan Educational System: Problems and Solutions. (2016, March 09). Retrieved March 26,

2018, from https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2016/03/181000/moroccan-

educational-system-problems-and-solutions/

Morocco - Migration and Development. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2018, from

http://www.imap-migration.org/index.php?id=299

Moroccan Higher Educational System : Overcrowding & Free Open Access. (2012, September

21). Retrieved March 27, 2018, from

https://theredwalker.wordpress.com/2012/09/11/moroccan-higher-educational-system-

overcrowding-free-open-access/