Rabat — Efforts to provide broader early childhood education barely moved the needle between 2000 and 2018. But since launching the National Program in 2018, Morocco has seen a rise in enrollment and progress towards universal access, according to a report published by The Court of Accounts.
The goal of the program is to build more public preschools to give enough chances for children to learn, with the aim to push private schools and informal providers to improve. But despite these efforts, problems persist.
Only 36 percent of preschools are inspected. The report flagged risks in the governance and management of public early childhood education that could affect its overall performance, hinder equal opportunities, and challenge its long-term sustainability.
The Court wants better planning and has suggested clear recommendations. It has called for better planning aligned with Morocco’s national education plans, including the 2015–2030 roadmap. It has also suggested using data to assess the current state of early education and turning program goals into practical, measurable actions.
In addition, merging preschool with primary education is another idea to help children transition smoothly and make the system even more coherent.
Meanwhile, higher education also faces issues. Private universities are rarely inspected and only three percent of active institutions are checked each year, with fewer than five undergoing checks annually. The Court recommends stronger regulation, better monitoring, and clear public-private partnerships to improve the sector.
In this context, the Court suggested taking a fresh look into the licensing and accreditation systems, the state recognition process for private institutions, and the effective enforcement of penalties outlined in the relevant regulations.
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