Moroccan NGOs help combat illiteracy

10/09/2006

Moroccan NGOS are heavily involved in teaching women, young and old, to read and write. They feel a sustained effort at the local level is the best means to overcome the problem.

By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 10/09/06

[Getty Images] Women account for 79 per cent of the people enrolling in literacy classes.

Moroccan NGOs are striving to help the country wipe out illiteracy.

Lahcen Haddad, director of the Adros Project, which aims to raise literacy rates among young nursemaids, told Magharebia that the country needs help to achieve its goals.

"Literacy affects all of us. We're doing good work in Morocco in this area, but we need to increase our efforts and all sectors of society need to get involved," he said.

Noureddine Hraiche, president of the Association of Development and Reform, also believes civil society should be more involved. His association tries to teach women living in shantytowns to read and write.

"Morocco is one of 12 countries in the world where three-quarters of the population is illiterate. Our association is trying to do its bit, even if [it helps] only in our local area," he explained to Magharebia.

Belmouden Saadia, a member of the same association, has tirelessly knocked on doors hoping to encourage girls to rise from the mire of illiteracy. The aspiring pharmacist will teach a class of 22 girls at the Zirara School in Temara.

Hafida Zaoui, a 12-year-old girl in the class, is determined to do something about her future.

"I don't want to be ignorant for the rest of my life. I want to understand life. If I don't study, I'll remain illiterate," she declared defiantly.

Hayat Al Abdouni, a 15-year-old girl, is also optimistic. She stopped studying just after reaching age ten to look after her younger sister, but is now determined to make up for lost time with the help of the Association of Reform and Development.

Older women are also seeking to change their everyday lives through literacy. El Hajja Tamou Saadine cannot wait for the new term of literacy classes to begin.

"I enrolled in my course last year thanks to the Moroccan Association for the Protection of Rural Women (AMPFR). I've learned a lot. I won't give up until I can read and write well, like my children," she told Magharebia.

AMPFR President Malika Ben Mahi is proud of her association's achievements in running literacy and vocational training courses.

"Armed with a slate, chalk and a small exercise book, women study very hard at our association. Teenagers and women in their 60s study side by side. The hardest workers receive gifts at the end of each school year to encourage them to keep going," she said.

Zahia, a once illiterate woman, has seen her life turned around completely through Yacoub Al Mansour's Women and Action Association. She sees those around her in a different light and is no longer ashamed to mix with well-educated people. She is able to follow the news on television in Arabic with her children with ease and hold conversations about many different topics. She can sense pride in the eyes of her family.

The number of children being taught by NGOs rose from 153,218 in 2004 to 225,129 this year. The public sector has made a similar contribution, while the private sector has only taught 2,652 people. Women account for 79 per cent of people enrolled in literacy courses.

NGOs that Magharebia spoke to feel the illiteracy problem should be overcome with an approach involving and empowering people at the local level. They believe every community must put together a literacy and prevention plan. Improving school enrolment and drop-out rates is also deemed to be necessary. NGOs believe a sustained effort lasting three or four years is needed to permanently vanquish the problem.