UNESCO to empower Moroccan literacy teachers with technology

UNESCO, along with Moroccan and international partners, launched a national initiative today in a significant step towards digitizing literacy education. 

This program aims to equip 10,000 Moroccan literacy teachers with the necessary digital skills by  2025, ultimately improving the quality of literacy instruction across the country.

“We are thrilled to support Morocco in achieving this goal by enhancing the digital skill set of its literacy educators,”  said Isabell Kempf, Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), during the launch ceremony.

This initiative is a collaborative effort between UIL, the UNESCO Regional Office for the Maghreb, the Moroccan National Agency for the Fight against Illiteracy (ANLCA), and Huawei.  

The program’s launch coincides with a four-day workshop where literacy experts, educators, academics, and civil society representatives will work together to adapt existing training modules to the Moroccan context.  

This includes translating the materials into Arabic, developing a comprehensive action plan to promote the new curriculum, and establishing clear guidelines for integrating these modules into existing literacy training programs.

“We are committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, has access to quality education that equips them for the challenges of the digital age,” said Eric Falt, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for the Maghreb. 

This initiative aligns with Morocco’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 4, which focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all.  

The Moroccan National Agency for the Fight against Illiteracy (ANLCA) has already been actively promoting digitalization in literacy programs. 

“Our participation in this initiative will build upon our existing efforts, such as developing mobile applications based on literacy programs and establishing the Institute for Training in Literacy Professions (IFMA),” said stated ANLCA Director Mr. Abdelouadoud Kharbouch.  

This project in Morocco is part of a broader global initiative led by the UNESCO Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL) in partnership with the Global Education Coalition (GEC).  

The GAL, a network of 30 countries and 16 associate members, works to advance literacy for youth and adults worldwide.  Since its inception in 2016, the GAL has become a vital platform for member countries to share best practices and address collective challenges in literacy provision.  

This digital skills training program has already been implemented in Bangladesh, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, and Nigeria, demonstrating its potential for global impact.