Literacy education up in Morocco

2007-07-17

Recent Ministry of Education data show that more than 709,000 Moroccans have received training from national literacy programmes, an increase of nearly 54,000 over the previous year.

By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 17/07/2007

[Sarah Touahri] Secretary of State Anis Birou [right] awards a prize to a beneficiary of the literacy programme.

Enrollment in Morocco's literacy education programmes is on the rise. According to recent data from the Ministry of National Education's Literacy Department, the number of people benefitting from literacy programmes rose this year to 709,155 -- an increase of nearly 54,000 over the previous year. Children from the informal education sector accounted for 190,941 of the participants. Academic year 2006-7 has had richer success than previous years because it saw the introduction of a number of key measures, notably the publication of teaching manuals specific to the literacy programmes and the creation of CD-ROM teaching aids to combat illiteracy.

In the past, the pace of literacy growth was a slow one. But lately, we have been gathering speed," said Secretary of State for Literacy and Informal Education Anis Birou at the end-of-year ceremony on Thursday, July 12th. " In fact, the total number of beneficiaries since the creation of the State Secretariat in charge of this project now sits around two million, six hundred thousand, surpassing by half a million the number benefiting in the twenty years leading up to the programme launch."

He appealed to every citizen to encourage literacy programmes, and also saluted the efforts of civil society, which provides teaching to 43.8% of the beneficiaries. As of this year there are more than 750 independent organisations involved in literacy education, some of them international groups. Thanks to the collective efforts of these organisations, many have learned to read and write.

Imane Jbili is one such beneficiary. "I left school five years ago because my parents couldn’t afford for me to stay, but I was able to return this year to the non-formal education program and I am learning a trade, jewelry-making," she said.

Even school pupils are getting involved in spreading awareness amongst their parents and others who might benefit, particularly on the outskirts of cities and in rural areas. Ali Maarouf helped a friend to return to school, and he talks proudly of his initiative. "I was very insistent that my friend come back to study. He was reluctant. But I did all I could to convince him and to help him catch up. I am happy now that he has succeeded," he exclaimed.

Spurred on by children, a number of adults who have benefited from the literacy drive expressed their sense of satisfaction. Nora Charaf, 42, learned to read and write over a period of two years. "Now, I understand a lot of things. I am no longer ashamed of being illiterate. I feel that I have become someone," she said.

Rachid Salimi, a teacher, points out that although many children benefit from the literacy classes, there are still millions of illiterate Moroccans. The current illiteracy rate for the Moroccan population aged 10 and over is 38.45%. "We must redouble our efforts to defeat this scourge," he said.

For some years now, a programme has been underway to encourage children to stay in school. Support centres have been established inside schools to identify challenges children face, as well as any problems that might hamper the literacy initiative itself.