Morocco’s New Quranic School Regulations Spark Concerns Over Accessibility

Morocco’s Awqaf Ministry has introduced stringent regulations for private Quranic schools (maktabs), raising fears of closures in underserved regions, Iqna reported. The rules, issued on March 18, mandate age-segregated facilities, collaboration with neighboring schools, and enrollment restrictions tied to formal education levels—a blow to traditional hifz (memorization) programs reliant on out-of-system students.

Critics argue the policies disproportionately affect rural areas lacking infrastructure, with financial aid now tied to student numbers and academic performance. Schools must comply by end-May 2025, a timeline activists call unrealistic. Over 50 institutions risk losing funding or shutting down, threatening Morocco’s centuries-old Quranic education network.

The ministry aims to standardize quality, but educators warn of eroded “traditional religious fabric” without phased implementation or subsidies. Remote schools, already struggling with resources, face exclusion.