Rabat – Morocco and the UK signed an agreement outlining the conditions for the establishing of British schools in the North African country.
The decision was announced on the sidelines of the first session of the Morocco-United Kingdom Strategic Dialogue, which kicked off in London on July 5.
Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita signed the agreement with his British counterpart, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.
Both parties underscored that the agreement is a recognition of the excellent longstanding relation between Rabat and London.
The agreement also highlights the importance of national education and the willingness of both parties to foster cross-cultural understanding through the promotion of culture and languages, according to Maghreb Arab Press (MAP).
The agreement further seeks to consolidate the links between the educational institutions of Morocco and the UK, in accordance with the agreement signed between the two countries on October 27, 1980.
The agreement noted that the “British School” in Morocco is an educational institution (primary and secondary) that follows the British curriculum.
All religiously-affiliated schools are excluded from the convention.
Morocco welcomes the opening of British schools or their subsidiaries only after the exchange and diplomatic memorandum between Morocco’s ministry and the embassy of the UK in Morocco.
The schools need to also meet the standards of safety and health stipulated in Moroccan legislation.
The signed convention emphasized that the operators of the British schools “must” collaborate with the Moroccan education authorities, adding that the school certificates issued by the British schools and recognized by the British National Center must be recognized by Morocco in accordance with the regulations in place.
