Morocco, France strengthen bilateral cooperation in education, vocational training

Taroudant- The Moroccan and French ministers of education, Rachid Belmokhtar and Vincent Peillon signed Tuesday in Rabat, three cooperation agreements in the field of education and vocational training, according to the Maghreb Arab Press.

The cooperation agreements aim at reinforcing “les classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles (CPGE)” (preparatory classes for the Elite Schools), “système de l’agrégation (CPA)”, (a highly competitive exam in Morocco for teachers to be recruited in elite schools), the implementation of the International Baccalaureate in French section, (BIOF) and the strengthening of cooperation in vocational training.

“These agreements are part of this renewed cooperation with Morocco and also in an aspiration of one another to rebuild their educational system,” Said Vincent Peillon to AFP.

The two countries are working to strengthen their cooperation in education, particularly through the development of “international courses” in Moroccan schools.

In one of the three signed agreements, Vincent Peillon said that France aims to establish “the International Baccalaureate in French section” in Moroccan schools.

The agreements also included a cooperative work between France and the Supreme Council of the Moroccan education “on the evaluation of the educational system and support for reforms”.

Benmokhtar said that the program of the Moroccan baccalaureate in French section, launched on September on a pilot basis, will be extended to all schools of Morocco “to allow our children to benefit from this excellent training.”

French Minister of Education Vincent Peillon announced on February 13 in Aix-en-Provence that the ministry of education in France would provide further means for the development of Arabic language and culture in France’s schools and colleges within the next three years.