Casablanca-Settat expands pioneer school model to 600,000 students

More than 600,000 students in the Casablanca-Settat region are enrolled in ‘pioneer establishments’ for the 2026-2027 school year. According to Mohamed Dib, director of the Regional Academy of Education and Training (AREF), the pedagogical model now covers 1,171 institutions, including 964 primary schools and 211 middle schools.

Part of the 2022-2026 roadmap, the initiative aims to improve fundamental learning and reduce school dropout rates. The regional educational infrastructure is expanding, with 100 new establishments planned, 51 of which are already operational. This expansion includes 43 facilities in rural areas. Additionally, 454 new classrooms have been created through extension projects to reduce class sizes.

Preschool education is also seeing significant growth, with over 204,000 children aged 4 to 5 enrolled across 16 provincial directorates. Following the addition of 375 new classrooms, the preschool enrollment rate has exceeded 80%, moving toward the goal of universal coverage by 2028-2029.