Moroccans Welcome the Expansion of English Language Teaching in Schools
(AWP) - A decision by Morocco’s national education ministry to gradually implement the teaching of English in government schools was welcomed by teachers and parents, who believe that the language will offer better opportunities for travel and employment.
Mohamed Zerouali, the Director of Curricula at the Ministry of Education, said in statements last month that the decision was based on the status that English has in society and its widespread use around the world.
Zerouali added, “English opens up great opportunities for young people in the fields of technology, knowledge and communication.”
An English teacher at the school, who did not reveal his name, said his experience in English language teaching is good as he has taught it for 18 years. He added, “When I teach it, I notice that students have more of an inclination to learn it over French, even though French is the country’s second language.”
He said, “I believe students prefer English because it is the language of the era, the language of science and the world’s number one language. It is widely spoken, not just in Morocco but throughout the world. Everyone loves English. For my part, I try to help students by analysing this language and bringing them closer to it as much as possible. Any student who likes you as a teacher will like the language as well.”
The ministry’s decision mandates the gradual generalisation of English language teaching at the secondary stage of education with a coverage rate of 10% for grade 7 and 50% for grade 8.
English teaching will be expanded to reach 50% in grade 7 and 100% in grade 8 during the school year 2024/2025 and will be implemented across all the secondary levels of education in the 2025/2026 academic year.
Nadia, the mother of one of the students, said she would prefer her son to be taught in English because “it opens up numerous opportunities for him as it is a global language and helps him learn about many things and if he travels abroad, he can communicate in English.”
The ministry denied that there would be any effects on the status of the French language in the curricula in Morocco, emphasising that the shift was adopted as a result of societal needs and scientific requirements.
It confirmed that there are sufficient qualified staff ready to render this path a success.