Rabat – Although Morocco is a predominantly French-speaking country, the popularity and enthusiasm surrounding English are undeniable.
The possibility of English gradually replacing French in Moroccan schools has thus become the focus of public controversy within Morocco’s educational reform.
Mastering the English language is no longer a luxury; it is a necessary criterion for gaining entry into a new world characterized by digitization and innovation.
English has undoubtedly established itself as a dominant global language, driven by media and the internet.
Beyond serving as the world’s most spoken language, it is an official language in 53 nations and is taught in 118 countries. Over 400 million people speak English natively, 55 countries see it as their preferred second language, and two billion people are currently learning it.
English as a language for the future in Morocco
Since English is considered the language of the world’s international communication networks, young Moroccans regard the language as crucial for their future and the future of the kingdom.
Given its dominance on the Internet, English appears to be gaining momentum in Morocco, with young people acknowledging its value and relevance in the current global context.
In order to better comprehend the understanding and importance young Moroccans see in English, the British Council conducted a survey of 1,200 people to investigate Moroccan perceptions of the French language’s dominance and the possibility of English supplanting it one day.
The results were unambiguous: many young Moroccans anticipate that English will successfully replace French as Morocco’s first foreign language over the next five years.
Entitled “Shift to English in Morocco,” the study argues that “English is expected to become Morocco’s primary foreign language in the next five years, as well as the foreign language most widely spoken among youth.”
Out of the surveyed individuals, 74% of young people believe that switching to English will benefit Morocco’s ambitions as an international business and tourism hub, while 85% expect the number of Moroccans using English to increase over the next decade.
The British Council study further demonstrated that Morocco’s “Netflix generation” uses English for online purposes and on social media platforms.
The study also indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic has opened up new opportunities for learning English, through online social interactions, movies, and instructional platforms, with Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Netflix listed among the most popular outlets.
Many young Moroccans even desire to start following the news in English, although the top three outlets for learning English remain school (37%), movies and TV series (25%), and the Internet (17%).
“Morocco is a country with a rich, diverse multilingual culture and history,” Tony Reilly, director of the British Council in Morocco, said. “This should not and will not change. Multilingualism in an increasingly interconnected world is a huge asset.”
He describes the findings of his organization’s survey as “clear recognition among next-generation Moroccans of the growing importance of English as a global language.”
Opened in 1960, the British Council in Morocco is an international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. Its stated mission is to provide international opportunities for the people of the United Kingdom and other nations, as well as foster global trust.
The importance of English in academia and careers
Mastering foreign languages has become essential in the era of digitalization, in order to increase an individual’s knowledge and abilities in many industries and advance their professional career.
Shakespeare’s language is now one of the most popular among global youth, particularly Moroccans.
Language acquisition has become vital to job growth. As a result, an increasing number of young and old people are becoming interested in English as the language of the future.
Studies have proved that those who improve their English language skills are usually better educated and better paid.
In the sphere of education, numerous industrialized nations are now opting for science, engineering, and university research programs to be conducted in English.
As the language of science, the majority of scientific publications are in English. Currently, 95% of the world’s greatest institutions are English-speaking, and 80% of information published online is in English.
This has prompted students and professors to sharpen their English-speaking skills in order to advance their academic and professional careers.
In the private sector, companies often require their employees or candidates for various positions to master the English language. English comprehension is becoming a key requirement for employees to more easily attain higher-level jobs and advance their international ambitions.
Morocco’s English History
The presence of English in Morocco dates back to World War II, when American bases were built near Tangier and Kenitra. Moroccan laborers who interacted with Americans were eager to acquire English in order to better communicate with them.
Since then, English has garnered considerable attention in Morocco, slowly becoming one of the primary foreign languages that, along with French, shape the country’s linguistic environment.
However, since French and Arabic are the main languages used in higher education in Morocco, Moroccan students struggle to access English-language references and pursue their studies abroad.
Since English is quickly becoming the de-facto language of science and technology as the top-ranked language in the world, there have been various proposals to replace French in Morocco.
Moroccan authorities have recently shown greater awareness of this issue and have begun taking steps to increase the role of English in education.
Government initiatives
As many Moroccans are now calling for the replacement of French and the adoption of English as the country’s primary foreign language, the ministry of education is responding.
Morocco’s escalating diplomatic tensions with France over visa rejection problems and a lack of French backing for Morocco’s stance on the Western Sahara dispute have provided an extra impetus for a transition to English.
On September 8, Morocco’s minister of education announced that his ministry intends to expand the number of English instructors this academic year in order to accelerate English instruction in middle schools.
“Starting from this school year, our goal is to first, at the middle school level, reinforce students’ learning of the English language,” Benmoussa said at a press conference.
For now, Morocco has more than 9,000 English teachers employed in 2,000 schools across the country, while aiming to further increase this number.
Read also: English to Take Center Stage in Morocco’s 2023 Education Reform
As part of Morocco’s plans for educational reform, the “National Plan to Accelerate the Transformation of the Ecosystem” — expected to go into force in September 2023 — will require students to pass an English-language proficiency exam and achieve at least a B1 level, a lower intermediate level, in order to receive their undergraduate diploma.
The new reform will also require students to have at least a B2 level, an intermediate level, in the foreign language in which they are enrolled, whether that be French or English.
The Moroccan minister of education reiterated Morocco’s interest in cooperating with British higher education institutes and the British Council at the Education World Forum held on May 22-25. The aim of this cooperation would be to promote the English language and boost educational and cultural exchange between Rabat and London.
In a meeting between the UK’s Prime Minister Liz Truss and Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita in December 2021, the two parties reaffirmed their commitment to capitalize on Moroccan youth’s enthusiasm for the English language and UK-inspired education.
They discussed expanding options for English-language learning, training English instructors, and advancing research collaboration and transnational education.
Morocco and the United Kingdom have recently created a higher education commission to strengthen and enhance educational and cultural exchanges, as well as to assist the growing Moroccan student population in the UK.
In March 2022, the commission’s 4th meeting was crowned with the signing of two partnership agreements between Moroccan and British institutions. This is in addition to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and Morocco’s National Agency of Evaluation and Quality Assurance (ANEAQ).
All agreements intend to promote innovative, English-speaking, and high-quality programs in Moroccan universities.
With the Moroccan population and government aiming to gradually shift from French to English, many express hope that the transition will happen sooner rather than later.
