The Ministry of National Education and Preschool has announced that over 8.1 million students will join schools for the 2024/2025 academic year.
Minister Chakib Benmoussa supervised the start of the new school year at Al Massira Al Khadra Primary School in Tahanaout, Al Haouz Province, marking the return of students to classes and preschools according to the scheduled dates for each cycle and level.
Classes will officially commence on Monday, September 9, for all educational cycles and levels nationwide.
The public education sector will welcome approximately 6.976 million students, including 3.716 million in primary education (a decrease of 1.3%), 2.025 million in lower secondary education (an increase of 5.5%), and about 1.235 million in upper secondary education (+12.7%).
New enrollments in public education are expected to reach over 1.813 million students, with 585,000 entering first grade, 625,000 entering first year of lower secondary, and 453,000 in common branches.
In alignment with its strategy to expand and develop primary education, especially in rural areas, the ministry has enrolled around 984,000 students in primary education, including 642,000 in public primary schools.
To accommodate every student and alleviate class overcrowding, the educational infrastructure has been enhanced with the construction of 189 new schools—68% in rural areas—and 10 community schools, bringing the total number of schools nationwide to approximately 12,300, with 56% in rural areas.
Additionally, 3,492 new classrooms have been added, with 59% in rural areas. The accommodation facilities have been expanded with the creation of 15 new rural internats, increasing the total number of internats to 1,103, with 68% located in rural regions.
Over 288,000 teachers, including 18,000 new hires, will be responsible for educating students in public schools.
This school year will also see the implementation of the updated “One Million Backpacks” initiative, part of the National Initiative for Human Development, benefiting over 3.053 million students.
Additional financial support will be provided to families receiving direct social aid, with 200 dirhams for primary and lower secondary students and 300 dirhams for upper secondary students.
The number of students benefiting from internat services is expected to reach over 147,000, a 9.5% increase, while about 639,000 students (58% girls) will benefit from school transport.
To stabilize the cost of schoolbooks and support families, the government has granted publishers a 25% financial subsidy on the sale price of books for primary and upper secondary levels.
The ministry has urged all educational and administrative stakeholders to continue their commitment to implementing reforms and initiatives aimed at improving school performance, enhancing basic skills, promoting student development, and combating school dropout, in line with the 2022-2026 strategic roadmap for a quality public education for all.