World Bank Report: Two-Thirds of Moroccan 10-Year-Olds Unable to Read Simple Text

The Moroccan school system has major shortcomings that need to be urgently addressed, according to the World Bank. In a report titled "Morocco: Towards a High-Performing Education System After COVID-19", the international institution notes that in 2018, the years of schooling of Moroccan students adjusted for learning were estimated at 6.2 years. As for the actual duration of schooling in Morocco, it was on average 4.4 years less than the actual number of years. Based on this finding, the World Bank states that "these figures reflect the learning crisis the country is going through, like several other countries in the world, and the urgency to address the gaps in the education system, in order to equip each student with the fundamental skills necessary to integrate into Moroccan society and economy as adults".

To this end, the report mentioned the reforms undertaken by the government as part of its Strategic Vision for Education 2015-2030, including the adoption in 2019 of the framework law 51.17. The World Bank did not fail to emphasize its support for the kingdom through a $500 million loan, precisely as part of the education sector support program. This grant accompanies the authorities’ efforts by focusing more specifically on improving learning outcomes and sector governance. However, today, the World Bank notes that the current context of the health crisis has weakened Morocco’s progress in education. It cites as proof "the containment measures, which led to the closure of schools and resulted in the loss of at least three months of learning for about 900,000 preschool children, 8 million primary and secondary students, and 1 million higher education students".

Referring to the rapid measures taken by the Ministry of Education to minimize learning losses during the crisis, the report nevertheless noted that these "three months of school closures and the blows to the economy, a student’s actual learning could decrease from 6.2 to 5.9 years and average annual learning per student by 2%". All things likely to further widen inequalities in education. To prevent the kingdom’s education system from sinking, the World Bank recommends, despite the context of "budgetary constraints", preserving education spending to limit the intergenerational transmission of poverty. The country will also have to focus on the objectives of its 2015-2030 Vision and learn lessons from the coronavirus crisis to accelerate reforms.

Furthermore, the World Bank proposes several other strategies, including in-person learning, if possible, to keep schools open, as much as possible and in compliance with strict health rules, in order to give students the best chances of learning and filling gaps. But also awareness campaigns, to prevent school dropouts, strengthening teacher capacity, developing stronger public-private partnerships (PPPs), in order to improve access to quality education for all.