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Rabat – The European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Union (EU), and Morocco’s Ministry of National Education, Preschool, and Sports (MENPS) launched a comprehensive technical assistance program on October 15.
With this €125.8 million ($132 million) funding package, this initiative aims to construct and transform over 150 community schools, targeting not just infrastructure but the broader challenges of educational equity and social inclusion in underserved areas.
Chakib Benmoussa, Morocco’s Minister of National Education, presided over the official launch in Rabat, alongside Adrien de Bassompierre, Head of the EIB Representation in Morocco, and Jean-Christophe Filori, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation in Morocco.
At the heart of the initiative lies a systematic effort to revamp rural education, with technical assistance focused on ensuring that local needs are addressed through tailored, inclusive solutions.
The project takes into account territorial, economic, and cultural specificities, seeking to align educational infrastructure with the lived realities of rural Morocco. This reflects a nuanced understanding that rural schools must be more than carbon copies of urban models.
Instead, they must meet the specific demands of their communities, offering relevant education while fostering social cohesion.
The €6.5 million ($6.8 million) earmarked for technical assistance will facilitate a transfer of skills, with an emphasis on bioclimatic design and the application of advanced environmental and social standards.
Through this, the program aims to create not just schools, but sustainable community hubs, with each institution designed to integrate harmoniously into its environment and promote long-term development.
In a context where rural communities often struggle with overcrowded satellite schools, limited resources, and high dropout rates —particularly among young girls and children with disabilities — this initiative offers a multi-faceted approach to closing the educational divide.
“This initiative is not just about constructing buildings; it’s about reshaping the future of education in Morocco’s rural areas,” remarked Adrien de Bassompierre of the EIB.
The project aligns with Morocco’s broader strategic objectives outlined in the MENPS’s 2022-2026 roadmap, which prioritizes equity in education.
