Morocco’s Education Minister outlines plan to curb school dropout rates

Education Minister Mohamed Saad Berrada announced Tuesday that Morocco is preparing a comprehensive plan to tackle school dropout rates, with expanded access to school transportation at its core.

Speaking before Parliament’s Education, Culture and Communication Committee during a session on the 2025–2026 school year, Berrada said the government will allocate “significant resources” to provide transport for students who face long or difficult commutes. “We will ensure transport for students who cannot reach school or whose trip takes more than half an hour to an hour,” he said, adding that the initiative will be coordinated with the Interior Ministry and regional councils.

The minister said the plan also focuses on strengthening boarding schools and student housing to keep children close to educational facilities.

Berrada highlighted the role of “second-chance schools”, institutions designed to reintegrate dropouts, as a key pillar of the strategy. Enrollment in these schools is expected to increase from 22,000 to 35,000 children, each receiving a financial grant of 6,000 dirhams ($580) to support their reintegration.

“These children will also learn a trade, giving them both an income opportunity and a professional pathway,” he said. Graduates will receive recognized vocational certificates allowing them to pursue further technical training or employment.

The government aims to cut middle-school dropout rates by half and find tailored solutions for remaining cases through vocational training or reintegration programs. “In two or three years, our goal is to ensure no child is left wandering the streets without an alternative,” Berrada said.

He warned that Morocco currently has about 1.5 million young people classified as NEETs,  not in education, employment, or training,  and that this number could grow by 200,000 to 300,000 annually if no decisive action is taken.

The minister also addressed infrastructure challenges contributing to dropout rates, particularly among girls. “The absence of sanitary facilities is a real issue,” Berrada said. “When girls reach a certain age, parents often pull them out of school if proper facilities are lacking. It may seem minor, but it’s a serious problem we must fix urgently.”