Morocco’s Education Minister Faces Backlash Over School Golf Initiative

In a note addressed to the directors of the regional academies of education and training, Chakib Benmoussa asked them to encourage students to practice golf. The Minister of National Education indicated that interested students can start registering in golf clubs affiliated with the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation, whose list was attached to the correspondence.

The official instructed the directors of the regional academies of education and training to widely disseminate the note at the level of the provincial directorates and in public and private schools. He also urged them to ensure the monitoring and implementation of this directive, which is part of the implementation of the 2022-2026 roadmap, particularly with regard to the improvement of school sports.

This decision has sparked a wave of comments on social media. Internet users felt that instead of encouraging students to practice golf, a sport that they believe is not suitable for school, the minister would do better to work on improving school programs and fighting school dropout.