Growing Financial Pressure on Families in French Schools
In recent months, parents of students enrolled in French schools in Morocco have expressed their frustration over a significant increase in tuition fees. This surge, which affects the entire network of French education abroad, has been attributed to a financial disengagement from Paris. The Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) stands as a key institution within Morocco, which boasts one of the largest concentrations of AEFE establishments and students globally. However, the latest fee hikes have left many families questioning the affordability and accessibility of this educational system.
At the Lyautey College-Lycee in Casablanca, a well-established institution celebrating its centenary, a 6% increase in tuition fees is anticipated for the upcoming school year. Amina, the mother of a 13-year-old middle schooler, expressed her surprise at the rising costs. She stated, "It is normal for prices to rise occasionally, but not by such significant rates." She highlighted her concern over whether she would consider a bilingual English-French or English-Arabic system for her child if they were entering school now.
The Impact of Rising Costs on Educational Choices
Similarly, Nora, whose daughter is in the sixth grade, has already been paying nearly 5,000 euros annually in tuition. She remarked that the fees have become exorbitantly high and are increasingly burdensome for parents. Nora, who herself attended Lyautey, recounted that she had expected costs to remain manageable, as they had in her time when many expenses were covered. The current trend indicates that only affluent Moroccan families can afford to enroll their children in French educational institutions, pushing the system towards elitism and potentially leading to a loss of students. Compounding this issue is the growing competition from private schools that offer comparable educational quality.
Parents have also voiced their concerns regarding the AEFE's financial cuts, which threaten the institution's role as a pillar of French cultural influence. Soumaya Kadaoui, a member of the Lyautey Parent Council, lamented the lack of consultation in the decision-making process, stating, "We are being imposed decisions without proper discussion." She emphasized that reports indicating financial difficulties within the AEFE do not reflect the actual situation, as the agency boasts a surplus of 3 million euros, suggesting that impending cuts are aimed at reducing state subsidies rather than addressing any real financial crisis. This, she argues, undermines the soft power that educational institutions can wield in fostering diplomatic relations, as the state seems to be prioritizing the development of private educational institutions at the expense of its own.
As reported by rfi.fr.
