Literacy Courses Start in Mosques on September 15
Morocco, Education, 8/31/2000

Literacy courses will start in mosques throughout the kingdom as of September 15, a statement by the Moroccan ministry of habous (Endowments) and Islamic affairs said.

The registration operation will begin on September 1st and citizens aged between 15 and 45, entitled to benefit from the move, can call the free-toll number 0800 0810 to get further information on the venue and time-table of courses.

The decision to use mosques as a venue to struggle against illiteracy was made by King Mohammed VI who announced on August 20-- in a speech on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People and Youth Day, commemorating the sovereign's 37th birthday--that mosques will remain open "to dispense literacy courses as well as religious, civic and health education, according to a sound program whose implementation has been assigned to the ministry of Habous and Islamic Affair."

King Mohammed VI had also announced that male and female teachers will be hired among the unemployed university graduates and that the necessary manuals, school books, stationary and other equipment will be provided to implement the program.

Minister of Habous and Islamic Affair, Abdelkebir Aloui Mdaghri, had told Saudi Asharq Al-Awsat daily on the wake of the royal announcement that the learners will be taught writing, reading, some mathematics in addition to religious and civic education. He added that some 100 mosques throughout the kingdom will be used to the purpose and that the number of the beneficiaries of the operation will amount to 10,000 this year.

The king's initiative to make of mosques instruments for disseminating science and culture for the benefit of society was hailed by officials, scholars, ulemas (theologians) as well as by the civil society since the move will help implement a large-scale literacy program.

In his August 20 speech, King Mohammed VI had said that illiteracy represents a serious obstacle to the country's development and the society's progress and had pledged to eradicate the plague.

"We have decided to grant a keen interest to the eradication of illiteracy, which unfortunately remains widespread in cities and country-sides," King Mohammed VI had said.

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