By Sana Elouazi
Rabat – The rate of illiteracy rate among elderly people in Morocco is estimated to be 70 percent, revealed the High Commission for Planning (HCP) Sunday on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons.
Observed each year on October 1 around the world, the day is intended as an opportunity to reflect on the conditions, rights, and needs of older people. The United Nations has chosen as this year’s theme: “Looking Forward: Bringing Talents, Contributions and Participation of Older People into Society.”
For the day, the HCP released some statistics regarding people over 60 in Morocco and characteristics of their socio-demographic modifications, based on data from the 2014 general population and housing census and demographic projections for 2050.
The information note shows that illiteracy affects 70 percent of elderly people in Morocco, and only 2.5 percent of them have reached higher education.
Moreover, elderly illiteracy remains prevalent in rural areas (85.9 percent) than urban areas (58.2 percent), affecting older women (85.0 percent) than men (53.5 percent).
The note points out that their participation in active life is declining with age, dropping from 52.3 percent for men aged 60-64 years old to 15.7 percent for men aged 75 and over,while for women it decreased from 7.3 percent to 1.7 percent.
According to the demographic projections of the HCP, this rate is expected to increase to 23.2 percent in 2050, with a workforce of 10.1 million.
With the increase in the number of elderly people and old-age diseases, “Morocco is called to augur reforms to take advantage of the demographic windfall and ensure sustainable financing of social protection systems, avoid a possible breakdown of family or intergenerational solidarity,” said the HCP.
