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Rabat – Morocco announced a new major milestone for Moroccan and international students with British university degrees.
The measure includes the automatic recognition of UK degrees for Moroccan students studying in the UK.
A statement from the British Council announced the news, noting that the measure is part of the UK-Morocco strategic dialogue launched during the visit of British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on June 1-2.
During this visit, Morocco witnessed a milestone in its ongoing momentum of support for its territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces, as the UK joined the growing chorus backing the Autonomy Plan as the most serious and credible political framework to end the Western Sahara dispute.
In addition to the automatic recognition of UK degrees in Morocco, two other major developments marked the visit, the statement reads.
“A special stakeholder breakfast was held in Rabat during he visit, bringing together key players- business leaders, educators, English teachers, and policy makers,” the statement said, highlighting the growing role of English in Morocco.
The meeting also proved as an opportunity for Lammy to assess the impact of educational cooperation between the two countries.
In addition to joint partnerships in the realm of education, the UK and Morocco also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on higher education.
“Building on the 2019 Higher Education Commission, it includes the cooperation of a joint steering committee to promote collaborative research, transnational education, and the use of English as a language of instruction,” the statement said.
Room for growth in Morocco’s English education
Despite the growing appeal of the English language among many in Morocco, the country continues to lag in English proficiency.
The English Proficiency Index last year shows that Morocco remains 76th out of 116 countries listed, with a score of 479. The score is marginally above the global average of 477.
The data shows that the North African country remains at a low proficiency level in Africa, ranking ninth among 24 other countries listed in the ranking.
This means that Morocco’s ranking is classified as low, with minimal progress despite pledges to enhance English education.
Morocco’s cities like Rabat stand out as the top-performing city in Morocco, with a score of 510, far ahead of El Jadida and Casablanca.
Last year, the Ministry of Education stressed the importance of expanding the English language in Morocco’s education, promising that English expansion teaching will cover 50% of preparatory education and 100% of the second year of education.
With reports confirming that French dominates the education ecosystem in Morocco, the British Council issued a report in 2022, acknowledging a growing interest in English learning. The survey shows that 65% of Moroccans, particularly youth, view English as important.
The report includes 1,211 young respondents residing in urban areas.
