Rabat: Education in Morocco

Our schedule today is much business, much like yesterday until 4:00.
--Foundations of the Moroccan Education System
--Meeting with President of the Moroccan Association of Teachers of English (pretty sure I will be able to understand this man:-)
--Meeting with Director of the Moroccan American Commission of Educational and Cultural Exchange
--Meeting at the U.S. Embassy in Rabat with the Cultural Affairs Officer, Matthew William Long
--Visit to Oulja, Sale' (an artifact village representing different regional Moroccan artwork). I'm looking forward to this!

Here are some things I've learned about education in Morocco:
1. Educational system first established by the French. The Ministry of Education (after Moroccan independence) introduced compulsory education in the 1960s, although attendance is not strictly enforced, especially in rural areas.
2. There are many private schools and the primary and secondary levels and one private university (Al Akhaway).
3. The majority of schools are public, and there are 14 public universities in Morocco.
4. Classical Arabic is the language of instruction at all levels. About one-third of students speak one of the three Amazigh (native) dialects (which has been accepted in the last few years as an official language). French was the sole language of instruction until the late 1970s to early 1980s, except religion and language classes.
4. Classes begin in early September and officially end on June 30. Students attend classes all day Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to noon and then from 2:00-6:00 p.m.
Moroccan Ministry of Education website (in English): http://www.men.gov.ma/sites/fr/English/default.aspx

Does the French chocolate dessert match my blouse? I may have to be rolled onto the plane after the culinary delights of this trip.

Today was not a very "touristy" day. We went to the Fulbright House here and had the cultural director at the US Embassy come talk, as well as the director of the Fulbright House. Also, another person from the Ministry of Education who deals with teachers of English talked to us about some of the reforms in Moroccan education.

We then did go visit an arts center where I picked up a couple neat pieces for gifts.