Rabat – Morocco opened the 2026-2027 school year on Monday, with more than 8.2 million students set to return to classrooms across the country as the government places renewed emphasis on the quality and reach of public education.
Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports Mohamed Saad Berrada officially launched the new academic year on September 7 under the national slogan, “For a Quality Public School for All.”
According to figures from the ministry, the national education system is expected to serve approximately 8.234 million students this year.
Public schools will account for around 7 million students, with 313,975 teachers assigned to 12,661 institutions nationwide. Rural areas account for 7,015 of these schools, or 55.4% of the total.
More than 533,000 children are also expected to begin their first year of primary school in public institutions this year.
Preschool reaches new milestone
Preschool remains a major part of the government’s education agenda, with authorities set to expand access across the country.
More than 37,000 preschool classrooms are available within public primary schools this year, an increase of about 1,700 classrooms from the previous academic year. The additional capacity should allow more than 650,000 children to enroll, a 7.7% increase from last year.
Rural areas are also expected to see a 6.5% rise in preschool enrollment.
With these efforts, Morocco expects its overall preschool enrollment rate to reach 90%.
The ministry has also launched the national “My First Step” campaign to encourage families to enroll their children in preschool. The initiative promotes early education as a key foundation for a child’s future academic path.
Pioneer schools continue to expand
The government’s “pioneer schools” program will also reach more students this year as Morocco seeks to introduce new approaches to public education.
The number of pioneer primary schools has risen to 6,753, up by 2,125 institutions from last year. Some 105,000 teachers will work within the network, which is expected to serve more than 2.643 million students, roughly 744,000 more than in the previous school year.
At the middle-school level, the number of pioneer institutions has climbed to 1,358, an increase of 572 schools in one year. Around 33,800 teachers will serve more than 1.095 million students, with the network gaining approximately 390,000 additional students.
The expansion reflects the government’s broader effort to strengthen the public school system and give more students access to the reforms introduced through the pioneer-school model.
Second-chance programs target school dropout
Morocco is also expanding alternative education pathways for young people who leave the traditional school system.
Second-chance schools are expected to serve around 40,000 beneficiaries this year, a rise of nearly 74% compared with the previous year.
Of this total, about 35,000 young people will benefit from the newer generation of Second Chance centers, which offer education and support to students who have dropped out or face a high risk of leaving school.
The country has also added 27 boarding schools to its network, bringing the national total to 1,176.
These facilities will accommodate more than 126,000 students, including over 71,000 girls. Their expansion should help students in rural and remote areas remain in education despite distance and other barriers to access.
288 new schools added to national network
The new academic year will also see the opening of 288 additional schools across Morocco.
The new institutions include 117 primary schools, 100 middle schools, and 71 high schools.
The expansion comes as Morocco seeks to widen access to public education while addressing persistent gaps between urban and rural areas. With millions of students back in classrooms, the 2026-2027 school year will put the government’s education reforms to a fresh test, particularly on the quality of learning and the ability of schools to meet the needs of a rapidly expanding student population.
