Morocco Plans to Reopen Quranic Schools in September, Pending COVID Situation

Responding to an oral question in the House of Representatives on "the reopening of Quranic schools," Minister Ahmed Toufiq indicated that Quranic schools could be authorized to reopen from September 1 next if the epidemiological situation continues to improve.

Ahmed Toufiq said that emissaries from the ministry will examine the cases of private Quranic schools and those attached to mosques on the ground in order to assess the conditions for their reopening as of September 1 next.

According to him, specialized commissions of the ministry have already examined and approved in April requests for reopening submitted by some Quranic school officials, who have committed to reducing the number of students per group to ensure distancing, or by demonstrating that these establishments have premises allowing this possibility.

At this stage of the evolution of the epidemic, the authorization to reopen can only be granted to establishments with boarding schools, specifies the minister, indexing the narrowness and lack of resources of several Quranic schools.

Nearly 13,000 Quranic teaching establishments are open throughout the kingdom and 92% of them are attached to mosques, detailed the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, adding that these establishments have been closed since they are places of gathering, in accordance with the directives of the health and administrative authorities.

However, he informs, the ministry has contributed to the continuation of the mission of memorization of the Holy Quran remotely through modern communication methods.