King Mohammed launches 2002-2003 school year at Old School in Rabat

Morocco's King Mohammed VI, who was accompanied by Prince Moulay Rachid, launched on Friday the 2002-2003 school year at the "Place des Chouhada" School in Rabat.

The king visited the classrooms of the school, considered as one of the oldest education institutions of the capital. Set up in 1948, Place des Chouhada School receives 476 pupils with 18 classrooms and 19 teachers.

The sovereign was informed on the 2002-2003 comeback which concerns a total of 707,000 newly-enrolled pupils, which is a 5% rise in comparison with last year.

The number of pupils enrolled in public schools in rural areas reached 413,987, scoring a 7% rise in comparison with last year while in cities, the number of newly-enrolled pupils grew by 3%.

Concerning private schools, some 47,000 pupils enrolled in the first year, scoring a 5% rise in comparison with 2001-2002.