As a teacher of high school students, a researcher in educational psychology, a coach and holder of a diploma in mental health counseling, a coordinator of a school club, a Moroccan citizen, and a parent, it is my duty to highlight the issue of the majority of male students’ indifference to studying.
In addition, I want to make this call to the decision-makers to do something about this frustrating issue, as the only and last thing male students—I am talking about the majority, and I am not generalizing—care about is working hard and setting objectives based on school curricula.
It is high time that we analyzed this phenomenon, as it is spreading and invading all aspects of life, including job positions. Society reflects this indifference, and it is obviously clear that women are taking the lead. No one can deny the fact that female students are outnumbering and outperforming male students in different school subjects and various aspects of social life. Girls show more interest in schools and even in extracurricular activities (though, to avoid generalizing, not all girls’ study situations are perfect).
For example, according to several statistics, over the past three years, girls have been performing better than boys in languages and higher studies. Some reports indicate that the gap between boys and girls in mastering Arabic and French has been increasing in recent years, with 68% of girls considering reading as their hobby compared to only 54% of boys. In addition, female university students outnumber males, as the percentage of females enrolling in universities reached 60% between 2017 and 2022, compared to 28% of male students. Furthermore, recent sources show that the percentage of females who passed recruitment exams significantly exceeds that of males.
To clarify one point, girls’ hard work is a source of pride for all Moroccans, and we—not only men but Moroccans as a whole—should keep believing in our female students and pushing them forward. Yet, I intend to draw the attention of our ministry and decision-makers to male students as well. Girls’ advanced status in society is not to blame for male students withdrawing from school activities or focusing on other pursuits outside of school.
It is clear that females are making great efforts that enable them to reach honorable ranks in all fields. This is due to their strong determination on the one hand and to societal change on the other, as Moroccan policy encourages the empowerment of girls more than boys. It is good that women have received and benefited from encouragement programs in education, the economy, society, and politics. For instance, the “Gender Equality Plan 2017–2030” includes initiatives to help girls continue their education at all levels and promote gender equality. Another program, titled the “National Program for Educating Girls in Rural Areas,” launched by the Ministry of National Education, aims to improve educational opportunities for girls in rural areas by building schools closer to their homes and offering scholarships. Other formal or informal programs, such as the “DigiGirlz” program, aim to empower girls in science and technology. However, neglecting to encourage male students is a significant oversight.
These kind of aforementioned programs have been successful so far, a fact that deserves our respect. As educators, we are extremely grateful for the efforts to help many female students carry out their school studies. However, we must ask several questions: Do our male children not deserve some encouraging programs as well? Are our male children sufficiently aware of their future? Simply put, are they not children who need support to fight the various distractions of the real world?
Male students spend plenty of time playing football, watching football, hanging out, and so on. They also spend more time playing video games at home. For parents, this seems acceptable because of cultural stereotypes that allow male children more freedom compared to girls, who are often involved in housework and engaged in schoolwork as well.
On the other hand, some male students nowadays believe that school is outdated and lags behind global advancements in terms of technology and market needs. They feel that school does not guarantee a brighter future even if they complete their studies, as there plenty of BA or MA holders who are unemployed. Additionally, social media is full of examples of successful people have never attended school, or who have dropped out of school at an early age.
Moreover, boys, more than girls, are influenced by shallow influencers who use language that resonates with youth and provides temporary self-relief. Another factor is their belief that they can make easy money at an early age without being “imprisoned” in school for a long time. These and other reasons contribute to male students’ lack of interest and care for their studies.
In contrast, girls are more interested in school because they want to become financially and socially independent. They are tired of being viewed as a burden on men’s shoulders. They are empowered and increasingly aware of their lives and futures.
Who is to blame? There is no one to blame for male students’ carelessness, but we are all to blame if we fail to take measures to encourage them. We must show that the road to success as individuals and as a society is through the power of education. As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.” The other successful cases in the world are merely exceptions.
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