Morocco’s Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports, Mohamed Saad Berrada, said the government is reviewing its decision to cap the age limit for teacher recruitment at 30, as preparations are underway for the launch of this year’s hiring exams.
In an exclusive interview with Hespress AR, Berrada said the ministry “decided to reassess and study” the rule setting the maximum age at 30 years. “A final decision will be made before this year’s recruitment competitions are announced,” he said.
Berrada emphasized that “no reform in the education sector can succeed without mobilizing sufficient financial resources,” adding that the government plans to raise the education budget to 97 billion dirhams in the 2026 Finance Bill.
Education a government priority
The minister said the government has placed education “at the top of its priorities” and backed that commitment with concrete financial measures. “Morocco now ranks 16th globally in terms of resources allocated to the education sector,” he said.
However, Berrada acknowledged a major paradox: “The country ranks high in resources allocated to education, yet remains among the lowest in performance indicators.”
Citing findings from the Higher Council for Education, Training and Scientific Research, he noted that in 2019, 70 percent of sixth-grade students failed to master basic skills in reading and arithmetic. “They understand only a few French words, yet they are expected to study science subjects in French,” he said, adding that this situation often leads to school dropouts.
“At the middle school level, only about 10 percent of students achieve proficiency,” Berrada continued. “The young people who are now protesting — Generation Z — studied under these conditions. We must change this reality, and that’s what the ‘Schools of Excellence’ program aims to do.”
Reviewing the age cap
Addressing the controversy surrounding the age limit, Berrada clarified that the rule in the vocational training sector — which Minister Younes Sekkouri recently said may be removed, applies to trainees, not to teachers.
“The question of the age cap for teaching has been raised repeatedly in Parliament,” Berrada said. “Our studies show that more than 80 percent of successful candidates in teacher recruitment exams are under 25, while those aged 29 represent only 4 percent.”
He confirmed that the ministry is “considering revising the decision” as part of ongoing preparations for the upcoming teacher recruitment process, which will open 20,000 positions for university graduates.
“We will make a final decision before the exams are announced in October,” Berrada said.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.