Ten-day campaign to serve schools and schooling

The Moroccan national education department launched on Monday a campaign dubbed "Ten days at the service of schools and schooling," meant to encourage new admissions and improve schools.

National education minister, Ismail Alaoui, explained that executives from his department will be touring various regions of the kingdom to promote awareness among the civil society.

Morocco targets to generalize schooling by 2002, with a total of 3,797,000 primary schools pupils, which is an increase of 8.6%, including 1,858,000 in rural areas ("13%).

Regarding newly-registered students, the minister said their number will reach 755,000 kids, increasing by 10%, including 421,000 in rural areas ("14%).

Alaoui also deplored a regression in new registrations for 2000-2001 academic year, explaining that only 62% of the targeted figure was reached. He ascribed the situation to drought which entailed a strong exodus to big cities.

Meanwhile, 10,500 new teachers were scheduled to be recruited but the finance ministry-approved budget only earmarked 9,000 new positions, which will lead to classroom crowding, with an average standing at 32 pupils for each teacher, while the norm is 23 pupils for each teacher.