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Rabat – Morocco’s 2024-2025 school year is set to officially begin on September 9, according to the Ministry of National Education.
According to the Ministry, administrative staff will return to work on September 2, while teachers will begin their classes on September 3.
One of this school year’s key measures includes expanding the use of the Amazigh language in primary education, targeting a 50% coverage rate by the beginning of the 2015-2026 school year.
To facilitate this expansion, the ministry plans to recruit 600 specialized professors for Amazigh language instruction and annually train at least 2,000 dual-discipline teachers.
Another priority for this new academic season will be the expansion of English language teaching in schools.
Parents brace for rising costs in back-to-school supplies
As the school year approaches, parents are gearing up for another round of financial strain as they brace for rising costs associated with back-to-school supplies.
The familiar rush to equip children with necessary educational materials has become more burdensome this year, with some items having drastic price increases.
One significant factor contributing to the rise in expenses is the price hike for imported textbooks, which are predominantly used by private schools.
According to recent statements from booksellers interviewed by H24Info, these imported textbooks have seen a minimum price increase of 5%.
The surge in prices is largely attributed to escalating costs of paper and transportation, which have affected the entire supply chain.
In contrast, textbooks approved by the Ministry of National Education have managed to maintain stable prices, thanks to regulatory measures designed to keep prices in check.
These measures have helped to buffer the impact of the general inflation seen in other sectors, ensuring that textbooks essential for public and many private schools remain more affordable.
In an interview with MAP, Ibrahim Kadiri Hassani, founder of a publishing and distribution house in Casablanca’s Habous district, shed light on the industry’s response to the back-to-school rush.
Hassani stated that preparations for the upcoming school year began several months in advance to tackle the anticipated high demand for textbooks and other school supplies.
He also noted that “the prices of textbooks approved by the Ministry of National Education have remained stable since the start of the pricing operation,” adding that there is a sufficient stock of school books available.
Despite these efforts to manage supply and stabilize prices, the start of the school year is still proving to be financially challenging for many families.
The combination of rising costs for certain educational materials and the recent expenses incurred during summer vacation as well as Eid al-Adha celebrations has placed an added burden on parents.
Families with multiple children, in particular, are struggling to balance their budgets as they manage not only the cost of school supplies but also additional needs such as furniture and other essentials for their children.
Moroccan VAT relief for educational supplies
In a related development, the General Directorate of Taxes (DGI) announced in August that certain school supplies and their production inputs will be exempt from VAT (value-added tax) on importation.
Previously subject to a 7% VAT rate, these items will now be exempt under a revised policy. This decision, made in response to industry requests, includes school supplies and raw materials used to manufacture them.
The exemption also applies to imported supplies, provided they are intended solely for educational purposes.
The updated list of VAT-exempt items now features 36 products, including notebooks, coloring books, adhesive materials (if under 36 grams or 120 milliliters), pencil sharpeners, modeling clay, paintbrushes, chalk, school bags, and pencil cases.
To qualify for the VAT exemption, manufacturers must submit an electronic application via a form provided by the administration.
They are required to maintain detailed records of purchased and used materials, as well as the quantity of finished products sold or stored.
The application must include a descriptive statement of products, a pro forma invoice from suppliers showing prices without VAT, and a commitment to use the materials solely for producing school supplies.
