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Rabat – Descartes High School, a French mission school based in Rabat, has found itself at the center of a heated controversy after it refused to admit veiled students, citing the recent ban on the abaya and other “religious signs” in French state-owned schools, Moroccan newspaper Al Akhbar reported today.
The controversial decision has prompted parents to appeal to Morocco’s Minister of Education Chakib Benmoussa, demanding a refund of their enrollment fees and criticizing the school’s decision to ban the hijab.
The school’s decision mirrors the French government’s recent ban on the abaya and other religious attire in public schools across France. The ban, which has stirred considerable debate in France and across the world, was apparently extended to French schools abroad, including those in Morocco.
According to Al Akhbar, Descartes’s administration defended its decision by referencing the French government’s stance on religious attire in schools. This unexpected move has left many parents shocked, as they said the school failed to communicate this policy during the enrollment process, only revealing it after the fees had been paid.
In response to the school’s decision, a group of concerned parents sent a letter to Benmoussa, urging him to intervene in the matter and ensure that their enrollment fees are reimbursed.
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The parents argued that such a decision contradicts Moroccan law and that foreign mission schools should not implement policies that run counter to the Moroccan government’s directives.
President of the Federation of Parents’ Associations in Morocco Noureddine Akkouri spoke to Al Akhbar about the incident, emphasizing that Descartes’ hijab ban goes against the Moroccan state’s policies.
He highlighted that foreign mission schools should align their practices with the host country’s educational guidelines.
This is not the first time that French mission schools in Morocco have found themselves embroiled in such controversies.
In the past, several of these institutions, including Balzac school in Kenitra, have faced accusations of promoting homosexuality by teaching students LGBTQ+-related topics.
These incidents have stirred significant debates in the country, with the majority of Moroccans considering them a breach of Morocco’s religious and cultural values.
