Morocco Innovation and Evaluation Lab (MEL) has revealed promising results from the first year of the “Pioneer Schools” program following an evaluation, according to MAP.
Implemented in 626 primary schools across Morocco during the 2023/2024 academic year, the evaluation highlights a significant impact on student learning outcomes.
Morocco’s progress in learning improvements positions it among the top 1% of comparable countries, according to the same report.
Specifically, the average student in a Pioneer School has improved by 0.9 standard deviations across all subjects, outperforming approximately 82% of their peers in the comparison group.
The most notable advancements were observed in French and mathematics, where Pioneer School students now exceed around 90% and 82% of students in the comparison group, respectively.
In Arabic, the average student outperforms about 69% of their counterparts in similar countries.
The program has also facilitated advancements in various areas, including reading and multiple disciplines of mathematics.
The “Pioneer Schools” model is built on a multidimensional approach aligned with the 2022-2026 roadmap, focusing on three key areas: the student, the teacher, and the school.
Core components of the program include structured pedagogy and targeted remediation based on students’ learning levels.
Additional elements involve teacher specialization in Arabic, French, and mathematics instruction, along with a quality certification system to recognize schools that successfully participate in the program.
MEL aims to promote the use of rigorous scientific evidence to enhance the effectiveness of policies and programs in Morocco, translating research into actionable strategies that contribute to the country’s long-term development.
The stude was conducted in collaboration with the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Harvard Center for International Development (CID), and Community Jameel, has revealed promising results from the first year of the “Pioneer Schools” program.