Morocco

Secondary education is divided into a four-year primary cycle (premier cycle d'education secondaire) and, for those students who successfully complete the primary cycle, a three-year secondary cycle (deuxième cycle secondaire). Vocational or technical training is available for those who do not enter the secondary cycle. Although progress is being made in reducing the size of classes, the average pupil to teacher ratio at the end of the 1990s was 38:1.

The primary secondary cycle (K6-K9) consists of additional fundamental education. The curriculum includes history, geography, mathematics, French, Arabic, religious studies, civics, and physical education. Students who successfully complete the fourth year, quatrième année secondaire or brevet, choose vocational or technical training or further secondary education at a lycée. The three years of this high school cycle (K10-K12) are the fifth or cinquième, sixth or sixième, and seventh or année de baccalauréat. Le Lycée provides advanced studies and training in humanities and letters, social sciences, economics and business, natural sciences, or mathematics. Since the early 1970s, English has become a major language taught in the secondary cycle. In addition to Arabic and French, students may alternatively choose among third languages such as Spanish, Russian, or German.

Prior to 2000, high school graduates who wanted to continue their academic studies had to score well on a very competitive national baccalaureate examination. Since 2000 the students' averages in seventh or année de baccalauréat determine their admittance into certain university programs. Between 1980 and 2000, the number of students enrolled in secondary public education increased. The average enrollment growth rate increased from 6 percent in 1979 to 9 percent in the 1990s, due primarily to the 1985 educational reform and the increase in the number of primary school graduates. The number of high school graduates increased from 33 percent in 1983-1984 to 54 percent in 1999-2000. Almost 60,000 students received their baccalauréat in 1999-2000.