Morocco Launches 2025/2026 School Year with Over 8 Million Students Enrolled

Rabat, The Gulf Observer: Morocco officially inaugurated the 2025/2026 academic year on Monday, with nearly 8.27 million students returning to classrooms nationwide. The figure includes more than 7 million enrolled in public schools, supported by 299,000 teachers across 12,441 institutions, nearly 7,000 of which are located in rural areas.

The new school year reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to expand access and enhance the quality of education. Public primary schools welcomed around 730,000 new students, representing a 7.4% increase from last year. To accommodate growing demand, 169 new institutions were opened, including 72 in rural areas and six community schools, alongside 2,461 new classrooms and 15 additional boarding facilities.

Early childhood education remains a priority, with 2,500 new classrooms serving nearly 985,375 children, of whom 663,000 are enrolled in public programs—equivalent to 67% of preschool-aged children. To strengthen teaching capacity, 2,500 educators received foundational training, while nearly 13,800 benefitted from ongoing professional development.

The government’s flagship “Leading Schools” initiative continues to expand. At the primary level, 4,626 schools now participate—an increase of 2,000 from last year—covering two million students and supported by 75,000 teachers, including 32,000 new staff. At the middle school level, 786 institutions are now part of the program, up from 232 last year, serving 677,586 students with 23,716 teachers. Schools under the program have been equipped with additional resources to improve learning conditions and teaching effectiveness.

Language education has also expanded, with more primary schools introducing Amazigh instruction and English now being taught at all middle school levels. To combat school dropouts, 60 new “Second Chance” centers opened this year, bringing total enrollment in such programs to 35,000 students.

In terms of governance, the Ministry of National Education advanced reforms through a new organizational structure, performance contracts focused on educational outcomes, and the nationwide rollout of the “Integrated School Project” to strengthen school management and improve learning results.

Minister of National Education Mohamed Saad Berrada marked the occasion with field visits to several institutions. At Mahmoud Darwish Primary School in Sidi Hajjaj Oued Hassar, he observed classroom activities, reviewed facilities, and attended extracurricular programs. At Ibn Sina Middle School, he assessed the implementation of the “Leading Schools” program, toured classrooms, and discussed teacher support measures. His final visit was to Taha Hussein Secondary School, where he stressed the importance of ensuring equal learning opportunities through improved infrastructure and academic programs.

Minister Berrada described the visits as an opportunity to confirm that preparations for the new academic year met required standards. He noted that a central committee has been established to monitor enrollment, address emerging challenges, and strengthen communication with parents, ensuring students begin the year under optimal conditions.