[Curiosities] Morocco Plans to Expand Amazigh Language Teaching to 50% of Schools by 2025

[BirSaNN]

The decision to promote the Amazigh language aligns with Article 5 of Morocco's 2011 constitution, which recognizes Tamazight as an official language of the country.

Rabat - Morocco's Ministry of National Education, Preschool, and Sports announced today its decision to gradually introduce the teaching of the Amazigh language in primary education, beginning from the 2023/2024 school year and aiming for full implementation by the start of the 2029/2030 school year. 

To effectively implement this nationwide project, the ministry is undertaking various actions and measures at different levels, including organizational, administrative, pedagogical, training, and support initiatives at central, regional, provincial, and local levels. 

The goal is to ensure that by the start of the 2025-2026 school year, 50% of schools will offer instruction in Amazigh, the ministry said in a press release.

These measures include comprehensive teacher training programs to enhance pedagogical skills, regular supervision and support from educational inspectors, increased use of information and communication technology (ICT), and the promotion of digital resources for teaching the Amazigh language.

As part of a partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, digital platforms for distance learning will be provided to both teachers and students. This collaboration aims to establish the official status of the Amazigh language and strengthen its integration within the education system.

Read Also: Amazigh New Year Becomes Official National Holiday in Morocco

To facilitate the implementation of this project and equip Amazigh language teachers with the necessary tools for teaching, the ministry will provide kits, manuals, and guides to further solidify the Amazigh language's place in the linguistic framework of the education system.

The decision to promote the Amazigh language aligns with Article 5 of Morocco's 2011 constitution, which recognizes Tamazight as an official language of the country and a “common heritage of all Moroccans without exception.”

It also reflects King Mohammed VI's commitment to preserving the Berber language as part of Morocco's identity and cultural heritage.

The implementation of this project demonstrates Morocco's dedication to integrating the Amazigh language into education and public life, as mandated by Law 26-16.

On May 3, 2023, King Mohammed VI gave instructions to add the Amazigh New Year to the list of national holidays in Morocco, a historic step that's widely expected to deepen national unity and further promote the country's diverse cultural heritage.

link: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/06/355739/morocco-plans-to-expand-amazigh-language-teaching-to-50-of-schools-by-2025