Morocco’s Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, the Ministry in charge of the Budget, and Al Barid Bank signed a partnership agreement on Wednesday in Rabat to overhaul the system for managing and distributing scholarships to vocational training students.
The new framework covers students enrolled in institutions under the Office of Vocational Training and Labor Promotion (OFPPT) as well as those attached to ministerial departments responsible for training in fields such as crafts, agriculture, tourism, fisheries, equipment, energy and mines, urban planning, and delegated institutes.
The agreement, signed by Minister Younes Sekkouri, Minister Delegate for the Budget Fouzi Lekjaa, and Al Barid Bank Chairman Al Amine Nejjar, aims to modernize a system that has expanded considerably in recent years.
The number of vocational training scholarship recipients has grown from 25,632 in 2021-2022 to more than 35,000 expected in 2025-2026 – a 37% increase. Since its creation in 2017, over 222,000 students have benefited.
Scholarship payments will now be processed through Al Barid Bank, supported by a new digital platform developed with the Treasury and the Ministry of Economic Inclusion.
The system is designed to speed up application processing, enhance transparency, and ensure traceability. Payments will continue to be made in three installments each year – mid-October, mid-February, and mid-May.
Officials say the shift will help overcome delays and technical bottlenecks that plagued the previous system. A ministerial committee will oversee applications, with eligibility criteria based on academic merit and data from the Unified Social Register.
Beyond the payment system itself, the partnership offers scholarship recipients access to basic banking services, including fee-free accounts and digital tools to manage funds securely.
Speaking at the signing, Minister Sekkouri described the reform as part of ongoing efforts to reorganize and expand support for vocational training, while Minister Lekjaa emphasized its role in equipping young people to participate in national development projects.
Al Barid Bank will rely on its nationwide network of branches to ensure fast and secure distribution of scholarships to tens of thousands of students each year.
MWN with MAP
