Morocco’s Education Costs Burden Families, Minister Seeks New Funding Solutions

During a colloquium on the financing of the education system, organized by the General Treasury of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Association for the International Foundation of Public Finance (Fondafip) with the support of the French Review of Public Finance (RFFP), the minister presented a worrying assessment of the Moroccan education system. Although a considerable budget is dedicated to his department, the share allocated to reform and improvement projects remains insignificant. Today, "the big problem with education is that it is a silent emergency," he said, stressing that serious investment in education will improve human capital and build the school of tomorrow.

Furthermore, "in most countries, education benefits from financing from the state, local authorities, households and the private sector. But in Morocco, the financing of education is very largely provided by the state," with 22% of its budget, or 7% of GDP, he said.

Thus, reports Médias24, to relieve the state and households who take care of a share of the financing of national education, twice the OECD average, the minister has presented innovative solutions such as public-private partnerships, the contribution of the diaspora, the levy on the liberating contribution in relation to assets held abroad, the tax on natural resources and others.

These methods used by other countries, including Ghana and Botswana, will allow the Kingdom to establish the foundations of the school of tomorrow, focused on digital and self-learning, concluded Mr. Amzazi.