Significant Progress in Preschool Enrollment in Morocco
As Morocco continues to prioritize preschool education as a critical means to combat educational inequalities, the nation has made remarkable strides in accessibility over the past decade. By 2025, the enrollment rate for children aged 4 to 5 years has reached an impressive 70.4%, a substantial increase from 50.2% just ten years prior. This information comes from the 2024-2025 preschool evaluation report released by the National Evaluation Agency of the Higher Council for Education, Training, and Scientific Research (CSEFRS) in collaboration with UNICEF. The evaluation encompasses all educational structures across the country, from public institutions to unregulated settings such as traditional Koranic schools and informal care facilities that have historically served as the only educational option in remote areas.
Transformative Impact on Rural Education
The most striking transformation has occurred in rural areas, where the preschool enrollment rate surged from 36.3% to 75.6% over the last decade, now surpassing urban areas. This shift can be attributed largely to the National Preschool Generalization Program (2018-2028), designed to reduce territorial disparities and establish public educational offerings in previously underserved regions. The CSEFRS reports an unprecedented expansion of the public preschool network, with the number of public units increasing from 6,185 to 23,182 between the 2018-2019 and 2024-2025 school years. Conversely, informal structures have decreased from 18,882 to 4,946, marking a progressive normalization of the education system. During the same period, the budget allocated to the preschool sector more than doubled, rising from 1.13 billion dirhams in 2019 to nearly 3 billion dirhams in 2025, while the number of educators grew from 39,535 to 49,885. Notably, the rate of preschool enrollment for girls has also seen significant improvement, escalating from 44.7% to 71.1% between 2014-2015 and 2024-2025.
The statistics on preschool access, however, do not provide insights into the quality of education within classrooms. The CSEFRS report highlights serious concerns regarding the diversity of working conditions, particularly in public and unregulated sectors, which undermine the consistency of pedagogical practices and ultimately the development of children. The report advocates for the profession's revitalization, enhanced training, and greater job stability. Furthermore, inclusion remains a critical blind spot, as support for children with disabilities is still inadequate, despite commitments outlined in legal frameworks such as Law 51.17. The report also underscores the risks posed by a lack of continuity between preschool and primary education, which can lead to the loss of acquired skills as children transition into formal schooling.
Lastly, the report addresses the fragmented governance of the education system. Various ministries, local authorities, foundations, and private operators operate without unified oversight, complicating the implementation of consistent quality standards nationwide. The CSEFRS recommends clearly delineating responsibilities and empowering local authorities within the framework of advanced regionalization.
As reported by agenceecofin.com.
