Teaching of Arabic compulsory in French schools in Morocco

Morocco and France signed at the end of last week an agreement under which the teaching of the Arabic language in French schools in Morocco will become compulsory.

The agreement was signed by Moroccan Education Minister Ismail Alaoui and French Ambassador Michel de Bonnecorse.

Under the agreement, French schools in Morocco will dispense, starting next academic year, courses of Arabic, and of Morocco's history, geography and institutions in all its levels, primary and high school.

Integrating Arabic language and culture in the syllabi of French schools in Morocco comes to meet concerns to give these students a bilingual education and to enable them to pass the international baccalaureate exams.