Morocco’s preschool enrollment has undergone a remarkable transformation, surging impressively by 76% this season compared to a mere 18% within the first year of the program’s launch in 2018-2019. Minister of Education Chakib Benmoussa shared this groundbreaking achievement during a recent Upper House session.
Benmoussa credited strategic efforts for significantly improving enrollment indicators. This academic year, the total number of preschool students in the country has reached an astounding 931,000–with girls accounting for 49.5%–a remarkable leap from the previous year.
Public preschools, managed by partners, have witnessed an 11% growth in accommodating 571,000 students this season. Unstructured preschool education, in contrast, has seen a rather significant 19% decrease, while private preschool enrollment has declined by 3%.
To ensure widespread access, the government meticulously planned preschool implementation through a multi-year school mapping system. This approach has resulted in expanded educational opportunities and allocates much-needed financial resources for classroom management. Minister Benmoussa highlighted the active involvement of both parents and caregivers as stakeholders crucial to the program’s success, in noting the holistic nature of the initiative.
Significant resources have been allocated to construct, rehabilitate, and equip new classrooms, the funding of which has been aligned to meet the unique needs of preschoolers. Notably, this season has witnessed the addition of 4,374 classrooms, with 2,038 realized thanks to the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH).