14-year-old Crown Prince of Morocco launches kick-off for new school year

The Crown Prince at the launch. Photo: MAP

Last week, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan of Morocco launched the official kick-off for the school, academic and vocational training year in Rabat, Morocco, at the Abdelmoumen school. The 14-year-old also launched the royal initiative, worth 426 million dirhams, set to benefit 4.262 million pupils this year called “One Million School Bags.”

The Crown Prince reviewed a detachment of the Royal Guard when he arrived at the school. He was also greeted by the Minister of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research, Mohamed Hassad and an advisor to HM the King and Chairman of the Higher Council of Education, Training and Scientific Research, Omar Azziman.

He was given an overview of the measures taken to provide a successful school year which has 7.8 million students enrolled with 805,000 in preschool, 4.3 million in primary school, 1.7 million at the secondary level, one million in upper secondary education. Additionally, 593,000 are enrolled in vocational training. There are also more than 800,000 studying higher education.

According to the Maghreb Press Agency, the launch “reflects the interest of HM King Mohammed VI in supporting the education sector and his strong and constant commitment to strengthening the education system, promoting scientific research and consolidating the vocational training sector.”

The “One Million School Bags” was originally launched in 2008 by His Majesty and has been renewed each year since. The Maghreb Press Agency added that it is to “be run by bodies of territorial governance under the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), involves all Moroccan provinces and prefectures.” Children in primary and secondary schooling will benefit with the priority focusing on those in rural areas. The main goal is to help provide equal educational opportunities and lower dropout rates.

Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan toured classrooms and handed out ten symbolic school bags to pupils in the school. He also posed for photos with teachers and administrators before departing.