Morocco Pledges Bold Education Reforms Amid Criticism, Rising Learning Poverty

Moroccan Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch has pledged continued efforts to overhaul the national education system, reinforcing the government’s commitment to tackling the longstanding challenges facing the sector.

Akhannouch made his remarks at a meeting in Rabat today, emphasizing the urgency of reform while praising the pace at which the 2022-2026 Education reform roadmap is being implemented.

These waves of reforms aim to improve fundamental learning, strengthen student development and citizenship and ensure the effective implementation of compulsory education, he argued.

The budget for the Ministry of National Education has increased from MAD 62 billion in 20211 to MAD 91 billion in 2025 financial bill, the government said after the meeting, noting that this increase represents 45% compared within this period.

Akhannouch’s announcement comes as Morocco continues to grapple with concerns highlighted by recent studies on education outcomes.

A 2022 report from the World Bank reveals alarming statistics about learning poverty in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with an average of 70% of children under the age of 10 unable to read a simple text.

In Morocco, the figure is slightly lower but still concerning, with 64.9% of young children unable to meet basic literacy standards.

Another report from the Global Knowledge Index this year showed Morocco recording a notable decline, ranking 98th out of 141 countries.

This marks a six-place decline from position in 2023, with the country ranking 92nd last year.

The index is developed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in collaboration with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Knowledge.

It assesses countries on the basis of their knowledge-based development across sectors such as education, research, innovation, and technology.

Closing socioeconomic gaps, including in education and healthcare, was a key promise of the Akkahnocuh government. However, despite the head of government’s reassuring announcements and promises, his governance has been widely criticized.

Among other persistent challenges, critics have taken issue with rising commodity prices, widening income inequality, and the continued deterioration of facilities and quality of education in public schools.

Morocco still has a long way to go, despite upbeat government reports and promises, critics have insisted, stressing that most social issues have worsened under the current government.