Morocco-AFD: €134.7 million to support the reform of the national education system

Hibapress

Morocco, represented by the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of the Budget, Fouzi Lekjaa, and the French Development Agency (AFD), represented by the French Ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier and the Director of the AFD in Rabat, Quiterie Pincent, signed, Monday in Rabat, a financing agreement and a credit protocol for a total of 134.7 million euros (M€) for the financing of the program of support for the roadmap for the reform of the national education system 2022-2026.

Signed in the presence of the Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports, Chakib Benmoussa, this credit protocol and this agreement concern respectively public policy budgetary financing of €130 million and a subsidy of €4.7 million for mobilize technical support and support the implementation of reforms and pilot schemes planned under the Road Map.

Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Benmoussa specified that the funding is aimed in particular at college education establishments, with the objective of reducing school dropouts including academic, educational and social support, as well as an improvement in mastery of languages, particularly French, with the support of AFD.

The technical support will also include a set of indicators relating to implementation and expected results, with the main objective of strengthening the established roadmap, by accompanying a certain number of other reforms, pioneering schools being particularly targeted for the start of the school year, he said.

And to continue that the pioneer colleges, which are at the heart of the reform of the national education system, constitute the central element fully benefiting from the support of the AFD and in harmony with the road map of the ministry to accelerate the pace of implementation of reforms and to promote convergence between all the actors involved.

For his part, Mr. Lekjaa underlined the importance of the convention which contributes to supporting this reform of the education system considered crucial for the development of Morocco, indicating that the pioneer school project, with its multiple dimensions and founding principles , occupies a central place in the context of this reform.

Collaboration with the various ministries is oriented towards enhancing the profile of education professionals and enriching educational content, aiming to promote the well-being and development of students, as well as to improve skills and performance of teachers, he noted.

For his part, Mr. Lecourtier highlighted the strategic positioning of the reform of the education system within the new development model adopted by Morocco, noting the priority given to this issue both in Morocco and in France, in favor of young generations of both countries.

He noted that the financing agreement intended to support the central objectives of the reform of the education system in Morocco also offers an opportunity for France to draw lessons likely to enrich its own reforms, particularly in the face of challenges such as such as the decline in the level of mathematics, school dropouts and difficulties in accessing languages.

AFD’s support is planned for a period of 5 years. It will be implemented by the Department of National Education and will have the effect of improving the level of language mastery for middle school teachers, the level of language mastery for middle school students, as well as the contribution to reduction in the school dropout rate, the promotion of a new college model offering better conditions for supervision and development of students (academic support, extracurricular activities) and the improvement of canteen and school transport services.

The 2022-2026 Road Map for the reform of the national education system 2022-2026 aims to achieve three ambitious strategic objectives. This involves guaranteeing the quality of learning in order to double the rate of primary school students mastering the fundamentals, making compulsory schooling effective to reduce school dropout by a third and promoting development and good citizenship and doubling the rate of students. students benefiting from extracurricular activities.