USAID-funded distance education activities have helped Morocco adapt amid coronavirus crisis

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has contributed to helping Morocco’s educational system adapt to the lockdown imposed by the spread of the novel coronavirus. In a press release, the American agency said that its investments in education programming have allowed the Kingdom to adopt flexible learning systems, such as e-learning.

USAID has funded in the past distance learning activities in the Kingdom, helping Moroccan officials respond to the country’s schools closure. «The USAID-funded projects Advancing Learning and Employability for a Better Future (ALEF), 2004-2009, and Improving Training for Quality Advancement in National Education (ITQANE), 2009-2014, trained national education experts on innovative, quality learning tools», the agency recalled.

The two projects worked closely with the National Center for Pedagogic Innovation and Experimentation (CNIPE) at the National Education Ministry to design digital learning courses and platform.

The expertise acquired during these programs has allowed the ministry to produce content for the national education portal designed for e-learning and the national TV channel 4.

For the record, Morocco has ordered the closure of schools and universities in March to avoid the spread of the novel coronavirus. During the same month, students were urged by the Ministry to consult an online portal and a state-owned TV channel to carry on their studies amid the lockdown.