Morocco’s Back-to-School Crisis: Soaring Prices Leave Low-Income Families Struggling

According to merchants, this price inflation is due to the rise in transportation costs and raw material prices. For the president of the Federation of Associations of Mothers, Fathers and Guardians of Students in Morocco, the high cost is linked to several factors, including supply, demand and quality. In a statement to Al3omk, he explained that as the school year approaches, some merchants and street vendors change their activities and start selling school supplies, which makes it difficult to control prices. The proliferation of counterfeit products, particularly in informal markets, further complicates the situation, he added.

The owner of a bookstore believes that the rise in the prices of school supplies is induced by the increase in the costs of raw materials such as paper, plastic and ink, noting that these prices are subject to international fluctuations. According to him, transportation costs and workers’ wages also contribute to the rise in prices. He also noted that imported books, often used in private educational institutions, are sold at high prices due to transportation costs, customs duties and exchange rate differences, while books produced in Morocco and subsidized by the state are available at affordable prices.

The prices of textbooks used in public education have not changed, assured the president of the Association of Booksellers in Morocco, who called on the Ministry of National Education to strengthen controls and ensure compliance with the texts governing the sector. The Association also welcomed the slight drop in the prices of certain items such as backpacks and notebooks. In a statement, it warned seasonal vendors or certain educational institutions that sell books directly to families, in violation of the laws in force, calling on all stakeholders in the sector to prioritize the general interest and work together for the success of the school year.