Morocco’s Minister of National Education, Preschool, and Sports Chakib Benmoussa on Monday announced that approximately 50,000 student dropouts resumed classes at the start of the 2023-2024 academic year, as a direct result of the efforts made by the ministry and various stakeholders.
Addressing the Lower House on the issue of school dropouts, Benmoussa stated that “the number of dropouts has fallen by 12% from 334,000 during the 2021-2022 season to 294,000 for the 2022-2023 school year,” adding however that the figure is “still high.”
Benmoussa outlined the ministry’s strategy to combat school dropouts, including revising the legal framework to establish a unified identification number for tracking individual students and extending preschool education access. He also highlighted the complexity of the school dropout phenomenon, calling for a collaborative approach to address it.
The strategy further encompasses individual student support, gap-bridging, and improving tutoring for students with learning difficulties.
The minister has identified several areas for improvement, including enhancing the appeal of educational institutions through extracurricular activities, providing educational and vocational guidance, and offering remedial education through second-chance schools.
Social support services are also being reinforced through the implementation of conditional family allowances, school transportation, and boarding schools.