Moroccan Students Struggle to Keep Up in Latest PISA Assessments

Wednesday 06 December 2023 - 04:00

By: Dakir Madiha

Moroccan Students Struggle to Keep Up in Latest PISA Assessments

Rabat - Morocco hits a new low in international student rankings according to the latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The assessment, conducted every 3 years, measures the academic performance of 15-year-old students worldwide in core subjects like mathematics, science and reading. This year over 80 countries participated, but Morocco landed near the bottom of the pack.

Out of 81 participating nations, Morocco ranked a dismal 71st in mathematics, 79th for reading and 76th in science. The Kingdom's national averages dropped across the board since 2018, most significantly in reading which fell by a staggering 20 points.

"These disappointing results confirm troubling deficiencies in our public education system that demand urgent intervention," stated the Ministry of National Education in an official press release. "We affirm our commitment to ongoing reforms targeting primary grades as a critical first step toward better preparing students for future PISA assessments."

While many neighbouring countries showed improvement, Morocco saw persisted declines, suggesting an inadequate approach to tackling systemic issues within schools. With over 6,800 students from 177 institutions assessed this round, the sample size paints an unfortunately clear picture of the situation.

"The writing is on the wall - we must take responsibility and act decisively to support the future of our youth," urged Minister Chakib Benmoussa. "Their struggles today will become our struggles tomorrow if we do not empower students with the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly complex world."

Though optimism remains for turning the tide, Morocco's latest PISA results underscore an educational crisis requiring collaborative solutions across academia, government and civil society. The future prosperity of both students and nation hangs in the balance.