Morocco has reduced school exclusion, but 570,000 adolescents and young people remain out of school

The progress is particularly clear among adolescents of middle-school age. Their out-of-school rate fell from 42% in 2000 to just 6% in 2023, an 85% decrease.

On Bladi.net : Morocco Reports Slight Decline in School Dropout Rates, Minister Says

Among young people of high-school age, the improvement is also significant, but the lag remains more pronounced: the rate fell from 63% to 23% over the same period.

Secondary education remains the main weak point

UNESCO notes that Morocco, which in 2000 recorded results below the average for lower-middle-income countries, has now reached the levels observed in upper-middle-income countries for these indicators.

This progress has been accompanied by a significant expansion of infrastructure. Between 1999-2000 and 2023-2024, the number of public middle schools rose from 941 to 2 024. The number of public high schools almost tripled, from 537 to 1 505.

Keeping students in the system nevertheless remains difficult. UNESCO notably points to the persistence of grade repetition in secondary education. In middle school, its rate had reached 23% in 2019 before declining.

Morocco has also developed second-chance schools and programs aimed at identifying students at risk of dropping out at an earlier stage. In 2024-2025, nearly 18,000 young people joined these programs, 72% of whom were subsequently reintegrated into education, vocational training or employment.

On Bladi.net : In Morocco, 2.9 million young people are not working, studying or receiving any training

The issue goes beyond school exclusion alone: 2.9 million Moroccans aged 15 to 29 were not working, studying or undergoing training in 2023. For UNESCO, the challenge is now less about opening the doors of school than about keeping more young people in the system through the end of secondary education.