OECD Study Reveals Steep Decline in Moroccan Students’ Academic Performance

The study involved 6,867 students from 777 middle and vocational secondary schools. The results show that Moroccan students in public education are struggling in reading, reading comprehension and scientific literacy, with a significant decline compared to the 2018 survey. It is therefore urgent to improve the Moroccan education system.

In the 2022 PISA ranking which includes 81 countries, Morocco ranks 71st in mathematics, 79th in reading comprehension, and 76th in scientific literacy. The report indicates that 82% of students have not reached level 2 on a scale of 6 in mathematics, well below the OECD average of 69%. Only 18% of Moroccan students are able to apply mathematical concepts in simple situations, such as currency conversion, a poor performance compared to students in some Asian countries who reach levels 5 and 6.

In reading, only 19% of Moroccan students have reached level 2, considered the minimum competence level. Almost no student has reached level 5 or higher, necessary to understand long texts and distinguish facts from opinions. Regarding science, 25% of 15-year-old students are at level 2, well below the OECD average of 76%, with no students reaching levels 5 or 6.

Despite these disappointing results, the OECD notes positive aspects, particularly among students from disadvantaged backgrounds: about 16% achieved good results in mathematics, showing academic resilience. The OECD also highlights a significant increase in secondary school enrollment in Morocco between 2018 and 2022. In response to these data, the Moroccan Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports has recognized the urgency of this issue and is committed to addressing it as part of the 2022-2026 Roadmap, based on responsibility, transparency and urgency.