Morocco faces serious wealth-related challenges in education, says UN report

Morocco was ranked among the countries with the largest gap in net enrollment rates in primary schools for children from the richest and poorest households in 2020, according to a recent report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

The report, titled “Education in the Arab Region: Closing Gaps to Ensure No Child is Left Behind,” said that Arab countries, including Morocco, face education gaps between children from rich and poor households, urban and rural areas, and boys and girls

The largest education gap in the Arab region lies in the unequal opportunities for children from wealthier and poorer families. 

In Morocco, the ESCWA reported a 20% gap in net enrollment rates in primary schools between children from the richest and poorest households. 

The data reveals that attendance rates for children from wealthier families reach 97%, while those from poorer families stand at 77%.

The report also identified an education gap between rural and urban children in Morocco, with a 13% difference. While attendance rates for rural children in primary schools reach 83%, this figure exceeds 96% in urban areas.

The report acknowledged Morocco’s progress in closing the gender gap in education over the past three decades. 

Several programs, including building schools in rural areas, providing financial transfers to families for their children’s schooling, and launching awareness campaigns, have contributed to this achievement.

The report also said that the largest gaps were found in Sudan (46%), Yemen (34%), Comoros (23%), Morocco (20%), and Iraq (19%). 

The report attributes this disparity to a combination of factors, including disparities in access to resources such as quality schools, educational materials, and supportive environments. 

The report said that the lack of adequate infrastructure in rural areas and low-income neighborhoods, as well as negative coping mechanisms that may discourage children from attending school, exacerbate these gaps. 

These factors often create a vicious cycle of deprivation, perpetuating poverty across generations and widening the gap in opportunities for social and economic advancement.

The report said that narrowing education gaps between the rich and poor and between rural and urban children is paramount. 

Investing in education access, the report said, will improve Morocco’s ranking on various development indicators, strengthen social cohesion and equality, and ensure that no child is left behind.