The Minister of National Education, Preschool, and Sports, Mohamed Saad Berrada, announced on Tuesday in Rabat that his department is working to cut school dropout rates in half, particularly in light of data showing that nearly 280,000 students leave school each year—160,000 of them from middle school alone. Speaking to the press after a meeting focused on monitoring the implementation of the national employment roadmap—chaired by Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch and attended by representatives from relevant ministries—Berrada said the objective is to halve school dropout rates and redirect at least 80,000 at-risk middle school students to second-chance schools. These institutions offer students the opportunity to pursue vocational training that prepares them either to reenter the job market or return to formal education, he explained. As part of the ministry's broader strategy to combat school dropout, leadership colleges play a key role by supporting students through academic assistance and extracurricular activities—such as music, sports, and theater—designed to rebuild their confidence. Berrada also highlighted the ministry's efforts to establish psychological and educational monitoring units for students at risk of dropping out. Using data from the Massar platform, these units ensure students are automatically enrolled in extracurricular programs and receive tailored support to help them stay in school. In addition, the minister emphasized the importance of social support programs in rural areas. These include school transport, canteens, and boarding facilities, which aim to reduce dropout rates by addressing socio-economic barriers to education. The government's employment roadmap includes eight initiatives, one of which—its seventh—specifically targets school dropout. The goal is to reduce the number of students leaving school prematurely from 295,000 in 2024 to 200,000 by 2026.
