Back to school: More than 8.2 million students begin the 2026-27 academic year

More than 8.2 million Moroccan students are expected to return to school for the 2026-27 academic year, as Education Minister Mohamed Saad Berrada marked the official launch at Ibn Battuta Primary School in the Amer commune, in Salé province.

The new school year is being held under the slogan “For a quality public school for all.” About 7 million students will attend public schools, taught by 313,975 teachers across 12,661 institutions. Rural schools account for 7,015 of those institutions, or 55.4 percent of the total.

The ministry is continuing its push to expand preschool education, which it describes as a key entry point to improving children’s educational paths, especially in rural areas. More than 37,000 preschool classrooms have been mobilized in public primary schools, 1,700 more than last year, to receive more than 650,000 new children. A national campaign called “My First Step” is encouraging families to enroll children from the age of four.

The ministry is also expanding the “Pioneer Schools” model. The number of participating primary schools has risen to 6,753, an increase of 2,125 from the previous year, with more than 2.643 million students expected to benefit. At the lower-secondary level, 1,358 schools now participate, up by 572, serving more than 1.095 million students.

To combat school dropout, about 40,000 students are expected to use second-chance centers, an increase of roughly 74 percent. The country has also opened 288 new schools and 27 new boarding facilities, bringing the national total of boarding schools to 1,176. During his visit, Berrada reviewed placement tests, student reception and the start of preschool and primary classes, and called on families to take an active role in school life.

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For a quality public school for all