The Moroccan Observatory for Inclusive Education (OMEI) has raised the alarm over delays in launching a program to support the schooling of children with disabilities. The program is still awaiting the approval and signature of Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports Mohamed Saad Berrada.
In a statement, the OMEI said the procedures needed to launch the program have yet to be completed, despite efforts by the departments and institutions involved. The delay has left nearly 30,000 families and around 10,000 education and social support professionals waiting for the program to be put in place.
The organization is calling on the minister to make a decision on the matter without further delay so that the program can be launched. With the new school year just days away, the organization fears that the administrative delay could disrupt support for the children concerned and directly affect their families and the associations providing that support.
The program is one of the main public mechanisms for supporting children with disabilities. In June, Secretary of State for Social Inclusion Abdeljabbar Rachidi said its budget had risen from 166 million dirhams in 2020 to 396 million in 2026, benefiting 27,883 children. He also stressed that the mechanism, implemented in particular through associations, complements education policy, while responsibility for schooling lies primarily with the Ministry of National Education.
The OMEI is calling for an “urgent” decision so that funding and support services can be activated within the required timeframe. The organization says the aim is to ensure that children with disabilities have the conditions they need to effectively exercise their right to inclusive education.
The pressure on Mohamed Saad Berrada’s ministry comes as the issue extends beyond the support program itself. The ministry is directly involved in implementing the National Inclusive Education Program and has had a partnership with the OMEI since November 2023.
It remains to be seen whether Mohamed Saad Berrada, who has been highly visible at RNI election meetings in recent weeks, will show the same urgency in responding to the concerns of thousands of families, just days before the start of the school year.
