Rural Morocco faces three-decade gap in educational equality, report finds

Educational inequality among Morocco’s rural population aged 15 and older remains at a level comparable to that recorded in urban areas three decades ago, highlighting a persistent divide in access to education between rural and urban communities, according to a new official report.

The report, titled Territorial Atlas of Educational Inequalities: 2024 General Population and Housing Census Edition, was prepared by the National Evaluation Body under the Higher Council for Education, Training and Scientific Research. Its findings were presented at a press conference in Rabat on Thursday.

The report found that Morocco’s education Gini coefficient fell to 0.47 in 2024, down from 0.55 in 2014 and 0.63 in 2004, indicating a gradual reduction in educational inequality nationwide.

The council said the decline reflected improving equity in the distribution of human capital, although inequality remained relatively high.

The education Gini coefficient measures disparities in educational attainment among people aged 15 and older. It ranges from zero, indicating complete equality, to one, representing the highest level of inequality.

Rural areas lag behind urban communities

In rural areas, the education Gini coefficient for people aged 15 and older declined from 0.92 in 1982 to 0.59 in 2024.

That figure is almost identical to the 0.58 recorded in urban areas in 1994, suggesting a time lag of approximately three decades in the reduction of educational inequalities between rural and urban populations.

The council said the comparison highlighted a structural gap between the two environments, despite gradual improvements in rural educational attainment.

The disparity is narrower among younger generations, but has not disappeared. It remains more pronounced among middle-aged and older populations.

Among rural residents aged 15 to 19, the coefficient stood at 0.16 in 2024, close to the 0.17 recorded among urban residents in 2014.

This reduces the estimated time gap between rural and urban areas from around three decades for the population aged 15 and older to approximately one decade among those aged 15 to 19.

Regional disparities

At the regional level, Beni Mellal-Khenifra and Marrakech-Safi recorded Morocco’s highest levels of educational inequality, with Gini coefficients of 0.52 and 0.51, respectively.

Marrakech-Safi, however, registered the largest improvement nationally between 2014 and 2024. Its coefficient fell from 0.58 to 0.51 over the period, which the council described as a significant improvement in educational equity.

Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra recorded the lowest level of inequality, with a coefficient of 0.37, followed by Dakhla-Oued Eddahab at 0.38.

Casablanca-Settat and Rabat-Sale-Kenitra also recorded relatively low levels, at 0.41 and 0.43, respectively, both below the national average.

The remaining regions,  Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, the Oriental, Fes-Meknes, Draa-Tafilalet, Souss-Massa and Guelmim-Oued Noun, fell into the medium-inequality category, with education Gini coefficients below 0.50.