Morocco’s Ministry of National Education, Preschool, and Sports took a significant step toward tackling school dropout rates by signing 16 partnership agreements with civil society associations on Friday.
The agreements, signed in Rabat, aim to enhance the management and effectiveness of new-generation Second Chance Schools, which offer educational opportunities to out-of-school youth.
Minister of National Education, Chakib Benmoussa, chaired the signing ceremony. He explained that the agreements are part of a broader strategy under the ministry’s 2022-2026 roadmap, which aims to eradicate school dropout.
The initiative is also in tandem with the country’s ongoing education reform efforts, focusing on inclusive schooling and remedial education.
The new partnerships will see regional education and training academies collaborate with civil society organizations to support Second Chance Schools. The institutions aim to provide young dropouts with pathways to socio-professional integration through a blend of academic qualification, vocational training, and personal development activities.
The agreements will benefit Second Chance centers across various regions of Morocco, employing both preventive measures to reduce dropout rates and corrective strategies to improve basic education outcomes. The ultimate goal is to offer a second chance at education and vocational training, particularly targeting children who are no longer in school.
Minister Benmoussa noted the importance of civil society’s role in this initiative, saying that their proximity to affected communities and ability to adapt to individual needs is crucial for the program’s success.
Since the inception of Morocco’s remedial education programs, partnering with civil society has been a strategic priority. Benmoussa also pointed to the need for strengthening these partnerships and expanding the capacity of civil society organizations involved in fighting school dropout.
By doing so, the program aims to improve training quality and facilitate the socio-professional integration of the young beneficiaries.
Hussain Oujour, Director of Non-Formal Education at the ministry, noted that around 54,000 students currently benefit from the Second Chance program. He stressed that the new school year will see increased efforts to combat dropout rates through expanded partnerships with centers nationwide.
Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the signing ceremony, Oujour explained that the Second Chance Schools are part of Morocco’s broader efforts to ensure compulsory education for all children and to uphold their right to education and training.
School dropout is a chronic issue, plaguing Morocco’s education system. A 2022 report from the High Commission of Planning (HCP) indicated that 1.5 million Moroccans are neither working, in school, nor pursuing vocational training.