School system in Casablanca

Tools:

Education in Morocco is free and compulsory from the ages of 7 to 13 years old. The system consists of 6 years of primary, 3 years of lower-middle / intermediate school, 3 years of upper secondary, and a tertiary education. Every child in this age group is eligible, including foreign children. Morocco allocates approximately one fifth of its budget to education and is monitored by the Ministry of National Education (MNE) and Ministry of Higher Education and Executive Training.

However, there are issues with the education system and only about 50 percent of Moroccans are literate (higher percentage for males). About three fourths of school age males attend school, but only about half of school age girls. Slightly more than half of the children go on to secondary education, including trade and technical schools.

    There are 3 tracks:
  • Modern Track - Continuation of the French system
  • Original Track - Koranic teachings
  • Technical Track - Education for the workforce

Elementary School

Preprimary education is compulsory for children aged 6 and up, but is open to children as young as 4 years old. There are two types of pre-primary schools in Morocco:
Kindergarten - Private school that provides education mainly in cities and towns
Koranic schools - Prepare children for primary education by helping them develop basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Students attend primary school from 6-12 years old. Students are required to pass Certificate d'études primaires to be eligible for admission in lower secondary schools.

Secondary Education

After 9 years of basic education, students may begin upper secondary school. There is 1-year of common core curriculum of either arts or sciences. Second year students take earth and life sciences, physics, agricultural science, technical studies or mathematics. There is an average enrollment of just over 55 percent, but drop-out rates remain high.

Private School

The majority of private schools are International Schools. There are a few private schools, some with boarding options. They are usually affiliated with a specific religion.

University

The country has about 230,000 students enrolled in fourteen major public universities and several private institutes. Admission to public universities requires a baccalaureate, with admission to higher public education (engineering school) requires competitive special tests and special training before the exams. Moroccan institutions have also established partnerships with institutes in Europe and Canada and offer joint degree programs in various fields from well-known universities.

  • Mohammed V University - Located in Rabat, this is the country's largest university with branches in Casablanca and Fès.
  • Al-Karaouine University - Located in Fes, this university has been teaching since 859. It is the world's oldest continuously operating university.
  • Al Akhawayn University - A public university located in Ifrane. Founded in 1993 by King Hassan II and King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, it is an English-language, American-style university comprising of over 1,800 students.
  • Hassan II Agriculture and Veterinary Institute - Located in Rabat, this institute is a leader in social science research and agricultural specialties

Morocco also has prestigious postgraduate schools.

  • L'École Mohammadia d'ingénieurs
  • L'Institut national de statistique et d'économie appliquée
  • L'École nationale d'industrie minérale
  • L'École Hassania des travaux publics
  • L'Institut supérieur de commerce et d'administration des entreprises
  • Écoles nationales de commerce et de gestion (ENCG)
  • Écoles supérieures de technologie (EST)

Update 24/02/2012


Tools:

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest WhatsApp Addthis

Recommended Partners

Learn a language

Babbel is an international success with millions of active subscribers and ranked as the world's #1 innovative company in education.

Why Babbel?

Learn and review on your own schedule: Mobile, tablet or desktop compatible, with lessons about 10-15 min.

Expert-made courses: Learn the basics or focus on topics like travel, culture, or business.

Start speaking right away: Learn to speak a new language naturally and conversationally.

Every learner is different: Each course is based on your native language and personal interests.

Remember everything: Babbel employs proven cognitive techniques that move new vocab to your long-term memory.

Refine your pronunciation: Practise speaking and improve your pronunciation with speech recognition technology.

Try Babbel for free today

Registration with Babbel is completely free of charge and the first lesson in every course is FREE to try (Depending on the language you choose, that's 30-80 free lessons!).

If you want full access to Babbel's courses, simply choose a subscription that works best for you. Buy with confidence: 20-day money back guarantee!


Do you have comments or personal information to communicate about this article? Add your comment.


Find more definitions and general answers on expatriation issues in the Expat FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).

Go to the Forum to talk more about school system in Casablanca, education.

Download the full digital PDF expat guide in Casablanca

Download the guide: Casablanca, Morocco
  • See in one single booklet all the articles for a city guide for expatriates.
  • Enjoy full colour photos to illustrate each section.
  • Additionnal maps: Region, City view, Neighborhood, Street view.

  • - My Life Abroad -
    A selection of expat stories

    "A fun compulsive read!"
    J. Matcham, Amazon

    "I strongly advise people ready to live abroad to read this book!"
    Patrice, Amazon