Morocco Lowers Compulsory School Age to 2 Years Old

Article 8 of the text obliges any person responsible for the care of a child (father, mother, legal guardian, directors and managers of social protection institutions) to enroll the child in an educational institution from the required age and to ensure the child’s regular attendance at classes and educational activities. Failing this, the regional academies of education and training as well as the provincial directorates will be responsible for enrolling the child and taking all necessary measures to ensure their integration into the education system.

Article 9 of the draft law stipulates that the person responsible for the child’s care must declare the child to the nearest school from the place of residence within six months, as soon as the child reaches the age of two. The guardian has the obligation to renew this declaration every year until the child is actually enrolled in a school. This declaration can be made via a dedicated digital platform. In the event of a change of residence, the guardian must declare the child in a nearby school within six months from the date of the move.

The project also provides for the creation of a coordination committee at the level of each prefecture or province, responsible for supervising the process of enrolling children in school education, monitoring the renewal of declarations and the enrollment of children in educational institutions. Its mission is to fight against school dropouts and dropouts. Offenders to these obligations are liable to a financial fine ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 dirhams.