Literacy lessons change lives in Morocco

2009-09-09

Morocco renewed its commitment to fight against illiteracy, with educational programmes geared towards adult students.

By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 09/09/09

[Abdelhak Senna/AFP/Getty Images] Reading programmes empower many older women in Morocco, who can be left helpless after the death of their husbands.

Morocco celebrated International Literacy Day on Tuesday (September 8th) by renewing its pledge to stamp out the problem of illiteracy. Today, according to the national education ministry, 34% of Moroccans aged 10 or over can neither read nor write, compared with 43% in 2004.

The report from the World Bank's education sector was damning. Of 14 countries listed, the kingdom placed 11th, eight slots below Tunisia and three behind Algeria. According to the education ministry, efforts are being made to overcome weaknesses in the emergency plan to improve education in Morocco.

Samir Bachir, a teacher, said the government must take action to improve teaching in Morocco if they want to develop the country.

"Education policy proved to be a real failure," he said. "The report from the World Bank confirms this fact. We hope the emergency plan will be more effective than others have been. It is still too early to judge."

During the internationally-observed literacy day, officials highlighted the efforts Morocco is making to curb the impact of illiteracy, particularly among adults. Over the past seven years, 877,950 people have been taught to read and write in remedial courses provided by the state. The number of students enrolled in such courses has risen from 286,425 in 2002-2003 to more than 656,088 in 2008-2009.

The director of the campaign against illiteracy, El Habib Nadir, said the progress made in recent years greatly owes to efforts by educational institutions and civil society. One specific benefit has been an improvement in the quality of instruction, he said. Teaching programmes were re-adapted to meet the specific needs of adult students.

Sociologist Jamila Berdai said that literacy programmes make it possible for adults to change their lives – often for elderly women, who have shown great willingness to learn to read and write to change their day-to-day lives.

"These women are becoming more autonomous and have more confidence in themselves," Berdai said. "They're managing to have a greater effect on their households."

Many recipients of this education, such as Hajja Tamou Jabilou, are happy to talk about their experiences. At age 62, Jabilou decided to sign up for the literacy programme in her district of Rabat. After the death of her husband and the marriage of her four daughters, there was no one left to help her.

"I couldn't even make a phone call," she said. "If I wanted to speak to one of my girls, I had to disturb my neighbours. When I got a letter from the bank or a water or electricity bill, I felt so ignorant."

After two years of literacy lessons, Jabilou can now read and write and take charge of her life.

Kebbour Belfaracha, 53, started lessons a year ago, following encouragement from one of his two children. He had never thought about taking this step, and believed he would never manage to learn. After the first few weeks, he got a taste for the literacy lessons. "Now I can read. The world has changed around me. I'm starting to read signs and notices. I now have a little time left to master reading the Qur'an," he said.

Many young women share their desire to escape the abyss of illiteracy. Hayat Maâouni, a 22-year-old housewife, has been taking lessons in a school close to the home of her employers, who have shown great understanding.

Previously, she had been working for a family who refused to offer any help. For years, she dreamed of returning to school. She spent just one year in school as a girl, due to the distance between her country home and the nearest school. "I can see my dream becoming a reality," she said, her eyes twinkling with enthusiasm. "I hope to complete the course, if circumstances will allow. I do not want my future children to have an illiterate mother."