Morocco
Morocco
Discussion
● What do you know about Morocco?
○ Consider the following
■ Geographical location
■ Religious practices
■ Economic & political systems
■ Music & food
Language
● Official languages:
■ Darja Arabic
■ education
■ Berber (60-80%)
● French
■ ⅓ of population
■ Commerce, sciences, and government
● Most literate Moroccans are
bilingual
Moroccan Culture
● Islam’s emphasis on unity & tradition
■ World Economic Forum
● Third most welcoming country
○ “Salam Alaikum”
■ Tolerant yet traditional
● Modest clothing
● Group meals
○ Tagines
○ Mint tea
■ Represent generosity, hospitality, and tradition
Multiculturalism in Morocco
● Religious & ethnic influence
○ Berbers
■ Spices
■ Handicrafts Berber motifs and
○ African roots symbols used for art!
■ Love of grains like couscous
○ Proximity to Mediterranean
■ Fresh fruits and vegetables
Medinas
● Medinas
○ Old part of a town/city
○ “Labyrinths of wonders”
Education System
● Education is mandatory for ages 6-12/13
● There are 4 stages of education: pre-school, primary,
secondary, tertiary
● Pre-school
○ Ages 3-6
○ Quranic pre-school (arabic alphabet & Quran verses) or
private kindergarten
● Primary
○ Around age 6 to age 12 for about 6 years
○ Main courses
■ Arabic language and French languages
● French due to being governed from 1912-1956
■ Islamic education
■ Mathematics, history, & science
○ Examen normalise
■ 6th grade
■ Tests knowledge of all subjects
■ Must pass
Secondary Education
● Middle School (lower secondary)
○ “Le college” from ages 12-15
○ Same subjects, French, Arabic, & sometimes third language
○ Standardized test at end of 3rd year
● High School (upper secondary)
○ “Le Lycee” from ages 15-18
○ Students have options in high school choice
○ Literary, scientific, or technological studies
■ More specific area chosen after first year
● Includes ‘sciences maths’ (heavy focus on math & physics)
● Economics (emphasis on enterprise management, finances, & accounting)
● Literature
○ Standardized tests after both the 2nd and 3rd year
Tertiary Education
● Collège/Université
○ Over age 18
○ No financial cost
○ Take “Concours” exam for each university
application
○ Must pass entrance exam for most
universities
■ Medical school, architecture,
journalism, agricultural studies, vet
school, etc.
○ High school diploma accepted for some
majors
■ Public universities focused on history,
sociology, psychology, or language
Education: Public vs. Private Schools
● Public
○ Free & compulsory public education
from ages 6-15
○ Public education system is failing
■ Underfunded and overcrowded
■ High dropout rates
○ Hours
■ Usually 8am-6pm but have a
two hour break around 11am
■ Sometimes have school on
saturday
● Private school
○ enrollment increase
○ hours
■ 8am-12pm, and 2pm-6pm
(some days)
Teachers as Trailblazers!
National Government System
- Constitutional Monarchy
- 1962 - 2011
- Prime minister and King
- Aziz Akhannouch
- Mohammed VI
- Parliament 2 chambers
- House of Representatives
- House of Councilors
Judicial System
3 systems classified by religion
Islam Judaism
- Muslim religious judges - Rabbinical Justice Secular
- Supreme Court
- Deals with personal - Deal with all issues
- 5 chambers:
issues for other related to Jewish
- Criminal
Muslims Moroccans
- Civil appeals
- Social
- Administrative
- Constitutional
Local Government System
16 regions
➔ Governor
appointed by
King
Provinces
➔ Governor
appointed by
King
Rural Districts
➔ Less involved
with the state
Rural Communes
➔ Autonomous
[Link]
1: Give one fact or answer one question about the language(s) of
2: Give one fact or answer one question about the government of
Morocco
3: Give one fact or answer one question about the culture of
Morocco
4: Give one fact or answer one question about the education of
Morocco
5: Give one difference or similarity between Morocco and the US
References
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
-[Link]
