Islamic Education in Morocco

Abstract

Islamic education in Morocco has changed dramatically over even the last 50 years. It has also flourished and grown even as public schooling has become increasingly available and has seen dramatic increases in enrolment. Traditional Islamic schools – Qur’ānic kuttābs – in Morocco have changed and repositioned themselves in the education sector, introducing innovations to make these schools more appealing to parents, who seek to imbue their children with traditional values and culture, at the same time ensuring they get a modern education that will lead to economic advancement and success as adults. This chapter explores the pre-university Islamic education sector in Morocco, looking at some of the major developments in school curricula, staffing, organization, and purpose.