Literacy for Moroccan Girls Photo Gallery

Impressive School Attendance/Retention Gains

As a result of the NEF project, school enrollment in some villages has risen from zero to nearly half of all children. Boys attending school have significantly increased. They comprise 56% of the nearly 2,500 children now in the classrooml, and importantly, retention rates are up too.

But Not Any More

All too often local schools were simply uninviting bare shells with little warmth and nothing to encourage children's attendance. Many consisted of a single or perhaps two classrooms. They lacked space, had leaky roofs, broken windows, missing doors, insufficient and often broken furniture, no heating so were absolutley freezing in winter, and typically inadequate or often absent water and sanitation facilities. As you can see that's changed considerably with NEF renovations and upgrading.

Women--the Majority of Adults in School

300 adults--60% of them women, have taken advantage of NEF's adult literacy classes and special extracurricular learning activities. New Parent-Teacher Associations provide an important outlet for involvement of women in education. Additional training has been given to women leaders to increase their know-how and participation.

Education at the Core of Development

People expect education to produce results improving their everyday quality of life. NEF is working on complimentary activities to identify and benefit from underused or neglected local resources. These include rebuilding and improving herds devastated by recent droughts, expansion/diversification of crops, introduction of quality seeds and plant materials, quality control/marketing of local crafts, improved processing/packaging of goods, & developing local markets/transport facilities.

Now Look What's Happened

When NEF began its work there were almost no girls enrolled in village schools and the idea of having women participate on the boards of local Parent-Teacher Associations absolutely unheard of. Some communities even prohibited women and girls from venturing near schoolyards; one school was located next to a cemetery--it was so despised.

Change at the Highest Levels of Decision-Making

Covering virtually the entire primary education system in the area's two rural districts, NEF's project provides a strong case for educational reform based on documentation and lessons learned. The primary objective is policy reform within the Moroccan Ministry of Education, demonstrating a more effective approach to rural education with enrollment/retention increased, expanded community involvement, & close cooperation among local communities/teachers/school administrators.

Picturesque But Just Under the Surface...

High in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, 6,500 feet above sea level, small mud-and-brick houses sit. Jagged mountain peaks surround remote, enclaved villages built among boulders on the mountainsides. Here people struggle with a lack of proper roads, electricity, irrigation canals, drinking water, income, and most of all, a very high illiteracy rate especially marked among women.

Against All Odds--Girls in Class

Nearly 1,100 girls--44% of the total enrollment in participating schools in two Moroccan districts--are obtaining primary education. The NEF project's gender-sensitive, multi-faceted approach has transcended entrenched cultural opposition and social pressure in favor of the education of girls and female adults.

Important Implications Beyond Education

Aside from policy reform, the isolated/deprived High Atlas Mountain area was selected as the project location because of unrest in Moroccan cities. When uneducated youth and adults migrate, they are prone to manipulation by terrorist recruiters in urban slums. Several involved in previous Moroccan terrorist activities have come from these mountain communities. Success with education enhances local conditions, understanding & economic opportunities.

Enormity of the Problem

Of an estimated 2.5 million girls of primary school age in Morocco. More than half live in the countryside, where again, less than half of girls attend school. When they do, the drop-out rate between grades one and six, is a shocking 80%. Families feel little incentive to educate girls generally married by age 14 and helpful with household chores and child-rearing.