Teaching Arabic language and culture, a must to maintain moroccan expats children's links with home country

Moroccan delegate minister in charge of Moroccans living abroad, Nezha Chekrouni, said teaching Arabic language and culture to children of Moroccan expatriates is a must to maintain links between this community and their home country.

The official told "La Gazette du Maroc" weekly that teaching Arabic to Moroccan children born abroad should be an integrated approach conducted in partnership between host countries and the Moroccan government. She explained that past experiences in the field have not been successful.

Chekrouni, who has recently toured several European countries where she discussed with Moroccan expatriates their education needs, also cited other problems facing this community, mainly the inadequacy between laws in the home country and in the host countries. She said the problem is being addressed through the creation of bilateral commissions with some host countries, like the Netherlands, France and Belgium, but added that their role is very limited.

Other problems facing the Moroccan expatriates include their political representation in Morocco, she said announcing that Morocco is currently pondering on a formula to allow Moroccans living abroad be represented in elected bodies, stressing that this should be done on clear democratic bases.