Nearly 8.27 million students returned to school on Monday for the start of the 2025–2026 academic year, according to the Ministry of National Education, Preschool, and Sports. Of this total, 7.4 million are enrolled in public education, supported by over 299,000 teachers across more than 12,441 schools, including 6,886 in rural areas. Among the new arrivals, 730,000 students began primary school, marking a 7.4% increase from last year. This year's back-to-school is notable for the opening of 169 new schools, including 72 in rural zones, along with six community schools. Expansion efforts also added 2,461 new classrooms and 15 boarding schools, all located in rural regions. Preschool education saw the creation of over 2,500 new classes, welcoming nearly 985,375 children (+4.5%), including 663,000 in public preschool, 67% of total enrollment. To improve quality, close to 2,500 educators received initial training, while an additional 13,800 benefited from in-service training. According to the ministry, this academic year represents a key milestone in the rollout of the 2022–2026 roadmap, particularly through the expansion of the pioneering schools program. The initiative now covers 4,626 primary schools—2,000 more than last year, supported by 75,000 teachers (+32,000), serving nearly 2 million pupils, including 640,000 newcomers. At the middle school level, 786 pioneering schools are now in place (+554 compared to last year), with 23,716 teachers (16,716 new) educating 677,586 students, roughly 478,000 of them newly enrolled. Language education also continues to evolve, with a growing number of primary schools offering Amazigh language instruction and the wider introduction of English across middle and high schools. To reinforce second-chance education, 60 new centers have been opened this year, raising the number of beneficiaries to 35,000 students (+6,000). In terms of governance, the ministry highlights three priorities for the year: completing its new organizational structure, strengthening the contracting system, and advancing the rollout of the Integrated School Project (PEI).
