Morocco's literacy campaign struggles despite $300 million investment

Thursday 16 January 2025 - 07:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Morocco's literacy campaign struggles despite $300 million investment

Despite investing nearly 3 billion Moroccan dirhams (MAD) in literacy programs, Morocco continues to face significant challenges in reducing illiteracy rates, with 27.9% of the population over 15 still unable to read or write, according to recent government findings.

During a parliamentary session on Wednesday, Zineb El Adaoui, President of Morocco's Court of Accounts, presented a critical assessment of the country's literacy initiatives, describing the current results as "unsatisfactory" given the substantial resources allocated to the cause.

The nation has seen some progress, with literacy program participation increasing from 674,000 learners in 2014-2015 to 852,000 in 2022-2023, representing a 4.1% annual growth. Between 2015 and 2023, more than 7.7 million individuals participated in these educational programs.

Financial commitment to the cause has also grown significantly, with the National Agency for the Fight Against Illiteracy's budget more than doubling from MAD 182 million in 2014 to MAD 371 million in 2023.

However, the latest census data reveals that illiteracy still affects over 7.4 million Moroccans aged 15 and above. While this represents an improvement from 47.7% two decades ago, El Adaoui emphasized that the current rate remains concerning given the extensive resources and strategies deployed.

To address these challenges, El Adaoui called for a formal agreement between the state and the National Agency for the Fight Against Illiteracy. She emphasized the need for:

- Establishing specific, measurable objectives with clear implementation timelines
- Creating robust monitoring mechanisms to evaluate program effectiveness
- Developing comprehensive impact assessment tools for literacy initiatives

The proposed reforms aim to enhance the efficiency of Morocco's literacy programs and accelerate progress toward reducing illiteracy rates across the nation.