Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
September 22, 2007

Morocco's new academic year begins with new tools and objectives.
By Sarah Touahri – 16/09/2007

Morocco rings in the new school year with new initiatives designed to increase civic knowledge and participation and to promote math and science in an effort to create "10,000 engineers". Close to seven million Moroccan pupils returned to school on September 13th to kick off the 2007/2008 academic year, themed "family and school: working together to make good citizens". Teacher Majid Abdellaoui indicated that the goal behind this year’s theme is for students to develop critical thinking, socialisation, respect for democratic values and human rights and civic activities and education, as well as to teach students about rights and responsibilities to help them become responsible involved adults.

Family participation in schooling has also taken on a new dimension. In order to give parents a greater role of the success their children's schooling, the Ministry for National Education plans to share educational concepts with them and to collect their expectations, suggestions and reactions. According to the national education minister, the government has increased educational entitlements for the 2007/2008 academic year, particularly in state- and privately-funded pre-school education, which will see an increase of 9.5% compared with last year.

Primary enrolment is up 1.3 % over last year to 3,983,940 pupils. Lower-tier secondary (Junior High School) enrolments are up 6.4 % to 1,486,777 students and higher-tier secondary (High School) enrolments are up 9.5% to 733,555. These increases have been made possible by a number of measures, particularly the construction of 51 new primary schools, 16 of which are in rural areas, 155 education units, 99 junior high schools of which 75 are in rural areas and 18 high schools of which four are in the countryside.

Meanwhile, curriculum managers have said that the beginning of the school year would be marked by the publication of new course books for the baccalaureate, the integration of the Amazigh language for the first time into the fifth year of primary education and the preparation of new teaching programmes for secondary education. The revision of the teaching structure is characterised by a desire to steer more pupils towards science and technology in order to meet the country's need for more engineers and technicians.

As part of the "10,000 engineers" initiative, the national education ministry introduced the mathematics B stream into technical schools this year. Preparatory courses for the grandes écoles (higher education professional schools) have also been increased with the opening of three centres in Laâyoune, El Jadida and Taza, while existing centres will be launching 13 new preparatory courses, taking enrolment from 5,691 to 7,276 this year.

Elsewhere, high schools and junior high schools, along with 75% of primary schools, will benefit from additional IT equipment, provided under the "Génie" project, to which one billion dirhams was allocated for the purchase of 104,000 computers and for the training of 230,000 professionals. Hind Benlhabib, who leads the information systems department at the education ministry, said that with the "Génie" project being launched and run by the prime minister’s office, teaching will take a real leap forward. "The project has three components: infrastructure, teaching content available on the machines, and human resources training in the use of new technologies," she said.

A number of secondary education establishments will receive IT equipment this year, and nearly 2,000 multimedia room managers will be made available. These rooms will be set aside to train pupils in IT and information and communication sciences. They will also be used to introduce teaching staff to information technology.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2007/09/16/feature-02
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Women’s representation in Morocco's parliament takes a step backwards.
By Sarah Touahri  17/09/2007

Fewer women were elected in Morocco's 2007 legislative elections than in 2002, leading many to question the state of women's participation in the nation's politics. The issue of women in Parliament has returned to centre stage in Morocco following the country's recent legislative elections. In 2002, women were elected to 35 of the lower house of the Moroccan legislature's 325 seats; on September 7th, 2007, only 34 were selected. Only four women managed to transcend the local lists: Yasmina Baddou of the Istiqlal party, Latifa Jbabdi of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, independent candidate Fatiha Layadi, and Fatna Lkhail of the Popular Movement.

Fatna Lkhail, who successfully ran for a second term, told Magharebia the electoral battle was difficult in the face of the machismo which still reigns in Morocco. She said many Moroccans, even women, continue to believe that political leadership is a man's domain. "During the campaign, challengers would not think twice about attacking candidates because they were women, to discourage the electorate from voting for them. The message came through loud and clear: do not vote for a woman." Lkhail said Morocco needs to consider some real solutions to strengthen the role of women in the political scene. She suggested starting by increasing the number of women on the national list and setting quotas for local lists.

Bassima El Hakkaoui, who heads the national list for the Justice and Development Party, shares this view. She says that to promote the place of women in politics, quotas should be considered for each political party at the local level, and more women candidates should be fielded in constituencies where they have stronger chances of success.

According to many female activists, the issue of strengthening women's representation in Parliament depends not only upon women's interest and education, but also the directions and choices political institutions take. Statistics from the 2007 elections showed once more that political parties are not willing to back their female members. Women figured at the heads of just 3% of electoral lists and just 5% of the total number of candidates.

Fatna Lkhail said women are still in the minority in party leadership, and therefore do not carry the weight needed to impose their will. She stressed that it is in local authorities that women can deal with the problem of their representation: "It is by working closer to the electorate that women will be able to demonstrate their real skills."

The international delegation called in to observe the elections stressed in its preliminary report that "thanks to the adoption of the national list system in 2002, Morocco has made great progress in promoting women's involvement in parliament. Unfortunately, it seems that the 2007 elections have not managed to consolidate women’s involvement in political life. There is a need to consider the best route to take to increase the level of women's representation, for party political leaders and election officials." http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2007/09/17/feature-02
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French renewable energy firm expands into Morocco.
21/09/2007

The French renewable energy company Theolia announced the creation of a Theolia Emerging Markets subsidiary on Thursday (September 20th), to be based in Casablanca. The new subsidiary plans to develop, build and operate wind and solar energy plants in India, Brazil and sub-Saharan Africa. Theolia's CEO, Jean-Marie Santander, said the company selected Morocco because of the government's interest in renewable energy. Santander pointed out that Theolia has already begun a wind-powered seawater desalination project in Tan Tan and is participating in a tender for the construction of a 200-megawatt wind farm in Tarfaya. Morocco's government aims to increase renewable energies' contribution to the national energy balance to 10% by 2012 and 20% by 2020. http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/newsbriefs/general/2007/09/21/newsbrief-06
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Number of tourists to Morocco increases 10% to 4.3m .
21/09/2007

Approximately 4.3 million tourists visited Morocco in the first seven months of 2007, an increase of 10% year-on-year with over 1m tourists visiting the country in July alone, Morocco's Department of Tourism announced Thursday (September 20th). The largest number of foreign visitors came from France (1.7 million), followed by visitors from Spain (795,000), Belgium (285,000), the U.K. (261,000), the Netherlands (211,000), Germany (182,000), and Italy (164,000). The Department of Tourism also said that the total number of local tourist nights in classified hotels increased by 7% year-on-year for the same period, reaching 10m. Marrakech remains the most attractive tourist destination with a growth rate of 11% year-on-year, followed by Casablanca (10%), Tangier (9%), Fez (7%), Rabat (6%), and Agadir (3%). http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/newsbriefs/general/2007/09/21/newsbrief-05
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American development fund grants $700m to Morocco.
21/09/2007 By Sarah Touahri

Morocco moves closer to implementing a large grant from the US Millennium Challenge Corporation. The grant is intended to alleviate poverty and contribute to the country's development. Outgoing Prime Minister Driss Jettou chaired a meeting in Rabat on Wednesday (September 19th) to discuss the implementation of a five-year, $700m aid package the US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) granted Morocco.

The grant, the group's largest to date, was finalized at a signing ceremony in Tetouan on August 31st, and will assist the Moroccan government in combating poverty and developing the national economy. The aid plan will stimulate economic growth by raising productivity and improving employment opportunities in certain key sectors, and aims to reduce poverty rates in target areas. According to the government, the completion of the projects included within the programme will raise the country's economic growth rate by 1.1%, an increase in gross domestic product of $118m per annum and a 20% reduction in poverty levels by 2012.

In a press statement, Jettou explained that the Moroccan government had prepared the programme under MCC criteria through a series of consultations with local officials, residents in targeted areas, professional federations and other associations. MCC Chief Executive Officer John Danilovich said the programme relies upon Morocco’s continued engagement in the comprehensive, dynamic plan it developed to combat poverty and ensure sustainable development. "We expect this operation to have a positive impact on the Moroccan economy," he said. "The programme will directly benefit 600,000 families. It was prepared by Moroccans themselves, and they have identified their own priorities in development, in accordance with the MCC’s principles."

The programme centres on five development plans: improving agricultural productivity, bringing small-scale fishing up to world standards, developing cottage industries, supporting revenue-generating activities and micro-credit, and supporting the programmes of the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH).

A total of $300.9m will be allocated to fruit tree projects covering several thousand hectares in various regions of the country.

More than $116m is earmarked for the modernisation of small-scale fishing activities, particularly the creation of some twenty seaside landing and reception points, and the creation of a network of protected marine areas.

The programme will also give $111.8m to promote a project called "The artisan and the Medina of Fez", to benefit from links between the crafts and tourism sectors and the cultural assets of the Fez medina.

The contract also looks to improve financial services offered to small businesses and to help micro-credit associations restructure themselves with a grant of $46.2m. Additionally, $33.85m will go towards a project to reduce unemployment among young graduates and to encourage entrepreneurial spirit. In particular, there will be support for the beleaguered Moukawalati programme. An additional $88.5m has been set aside for the monitoring and evaluation of all the projects.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2007/09/21/feature-02
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King inaugurates USD-330,000 social center for girls.
Tangier, Sep. 21

King Mohammed VI inaugurated, Friday in the commune of Melloussa in Tangier a USD-330,000 social center to enable rural girls to pursue their studies. The project, financed by the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity, will offer housing and educational and pedagogical support to 86 girls part of the efforts made to lower school dropout, especially in rural areas. The Foundation has built some 47 centers in the vicinity of educational institutions. Another 13 centers are under construction, which would increase the accommodation capacity of these centers to 5,000 girls a year.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/box1/king_inaugurates_usd/view
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Theolia creates subsidiary in Morocco to develop wind energy .
Casablanca (100 km south of Rabat), Sep.20

The French renewable energy company Theolia chose Morocco to establish an affiliated holding company, dubbed "Theolia Emerging Markets"(TEM). The new subsidiary will be based in Casablanca and will develop, build and operate wind and solar energy farms in India, Brazil and sub-Saharan Africa. "The choice of Morocco is not fortuitous," Theolia's CEO, Jean-Marie Santander told the press on Thursday, noting that Morocco has a great development potential, since the government decided to promote renewable energies.

Several projects are underway in Morocco, namely a wind-powered seawater desalination plant in Tan Tan (south), he recalled, adding that the company is among 16 bidders which were pre-selected to establish a 200 Mega Watts-output wind farm in Tarfaya (south). Theolia is a leading European independent producer of renewable energies, whose activities span over development, construction and operation of wind farms. It operates in France, Germany, Spain, Greece and Eastern Europe. Morocco plans to raise by 10% renewable energies'contribution to the national energy balance by 2012 while it expects this rate to stand at 20% in 2020.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/imp_economy/theolia_creates_subs/view
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Moroccan cultural tolerance, model in Kingston cultural event.
London Sep. 11

Moroccan cultural tolerance and coexistence between the followers of the three monotheistic religions was chosen as .a model on the occasion of a cultural event, organized in Kingston (south west London). The organizers of the ongoing event, held at Kingston mosque, underlined that "the choice of Morocco was not accidental, the kingdom is recognized as a country which has always worked for bringing together different cultures and promoting relations between Islam, Christianity and Judaism."

Kingston Mosque Chief, Rachid Mohamed, said that Morocco's example "will serve even within the British society, which, despite its exemplary openness, witnessed divides between different minorities." Speaking at the opening of this event, Chairman of Moroccan Jews in Great Britain, Sydney Assor, underlined that the coexistence between Muslims, Jews and Christian in Morocco should be taken as an example to better respect the other characteristics.

Kingston cultural week, which tackles the Holy Koran message, gives the opportunity to visitors to be introduced to religious, cultural, social and scientific dimensions of the holy book. The event also highlights the contribution of Islam notably in the UK modern life. http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/culture/moroccan_cultural_to/view
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Morocco Jan-Aug inflation steady at 2.1 pct. 
Thu 20 Sep 2007, 12 RABAT (Reuters)

Moroccan consumer prices rose 2.1 percent in the first eight months of 2007 as housing and food got more expensive, official data showed on Thursday. Housing prices grew 3.7 percent from the same period a year earlier, while food costs rose 3.0 percent, the High Planning Commission said in a statement. Transport and communication was the only category to decline, falling 1.7 percent. The headline inflation figure was unchanged from a month earlier. The government envisages an inflation rate of around 2.0 percent this year. Inflation for 2006 was 3.3 percent, above a government forecast of 2.0 percent because of higher oil prices and a severe drought that cut domestic crops and made food more costly.
http://africa.reuters.com/business/news/usnBAN047807.html
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Morocco's south stage to Michael Offer's 'Passion' TV serial.
Ouarzazate, Sep. 20

"Passion" is the new TV serial being shot in the natural scenery of the south-central Moroccan towns of Ouarzazate and Zagora by Australian director Michael Offer. Written by Frank Deasy and produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), "Passion" will be screened in 2008. It delves into the past and tells the story of Jesus, highlighting the milestones of his life as well as of those surrounding him. The characters are respectively played by Johnny Harris (Asher), Mak Lewis Jones (Marcus), Esther Hall (Claudia) and Daniel Caltagirone (Eban) while Jesus is performed by Joseph Mawle. Mr.Offer directed several TV series, namely "Silent witness" (2006), "Daddy's little girl" and "Moving targets" (2003). He also directed several feature movies such as "The State within" (2006), "Murder Investigation Team" (2004) and "Lost World, the Underground" (2002).
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/imp_culture/morocco_s_south_stag/view
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Rocking the kasbah in Morocco.
For Jill Hartley and friends, sensual Marrakesh kicks off a wild ride back to the glory days of their youth.  
The Times  September 22, 2007

We all cheered as our friend David climbed manfully up a sand dune in the Moroccan Sahara, just six weeks after a knee replacement. Luckily we had hijacked a passing camel to help us carry our stash of booze to the top, where we toasted both his recovery and the beauty of the pomegranate-red desert sunset.

There were eight of us, a disparate bunch of middle-aged mates (youngest 54, eldest 60-plus) on a four-wheel-drive adventure tour of Morocco. With no children to disapprove of our cringe-making antics, we were determined to enjoy ourselves. If we got too silly, too loud, or too drunk, so be it. We wanted fun in the sun.

We started out with a couple of days in Marrakesh, where we hooked up with Mehdi, our guide for the next five days, a man with near-perfect English and sky-blue eyes. He steered us slowly through the souk, where we shed a few pounds along the way, and that night he took us to Jemaa el Fna, the famed Marrakesh square which comes alive after sunset with an unforgettable writhing human mass of snake charmers, acrobats, herbalists and fortune-tellers. It’s one of the most thrilling spots on earth, enriched with a frisson of black magic, yet lost on the wide-eyed gap yearers nervously clutching their Lonely Planet guides.

Marrakesh is so obviously made for the middle-aged. It’s a magic carpet ride to our lost youth. We are the generation of Rizlas, Hendrix, Dylan and Joni. The square remains thick with the scent of spliff and patchouli, plus a sour top note of goat, just like those dreadful Afghan coats we once wore.

Still dizzy with the smells and idiosyncratic cries of the muezzin, we set off early next day on our private 4x4 tour of the High Atlas with trusty drivers Kader and Rasheed. As we left the suburbs and started to climb, the colour seeped out of the landscape and turned the mountains to a harsh shade of baked mud.

From our first comfort stop 2,260m (7,415ft) up at the top of the Tizi n’Tichka pass, the highest road in Morocco, we looked out on an alien environment of Cubist terracotta Berber villages hewn out of the hillsides. Only the white satellite dishes, perched like doves on every rooftop, connected them with the present.

Soon we lurched off-road onto a bone-jarring detour to Telouet, home to the magnificent crumbling kasbah of the Glaoui clan. We hung on Mehdi’s every word as he explained how the family of ruthless warlords ruled the south of the country with French approval until independence in 1956.

It took 300 craftsmen three years, working 24 hours a day, to build the palace at Telouet, now sadly in decline, but still a showcase for ornate traditional decoration in cedar wood, stucco and mosaic.

The days were long and off-roading was tough on bad backs, arthritic shoulders and new knees, but we revelled in the heat and dust and cheered when we hit 100F (almost 38C). After wine-fuelled lunches we nodded off as the Mars-like rocky desert slipped by. Sometimes the landscape was boring, but it could suddenly change to deep canyons as impressive as Arizona.

As we were always laughing, people seemed to like us. Would the restaurant in the Dadès gorge have set up a private table for us next to the river, under the silver birches, if there had only been two of us? As with every trip, it’s the human encounters that linger. We bought figs from black-eyed urchins at the roadside, had an impromptu Berber cooking lesson one day over lunch, and bumped into a convention of gay bikers called the Chopper Boys.

After five days on the road we said an exhausted and emotional farewell to Mehdi as he delivered us back to Marrakesh. We had purposely booked a small four-room riad in the heart of the Medina so we could have a private chill-out party at the end of the trip.

For 48 hours riad Dar R’Mane was our refuge from the heat, din, pushy street sellers and dog mess that can make the labyrinthine alleys hard to stomach. We had a cooling courtyard and staff to keep us topped up with orange juice, mint tea, cold beers and chilled soda to go with our digestifs.

We had a charming top-floor terrace with pomegranate trees and a pergola weighed down with bougainvillea and jasmine. There were enough sofas and cushions for eight lounging adults and sunbeds for those desperate for some final rays.

That night, as we stepped out for the last time into the human maelstrom of the Medina, donkey carts brushed our thighs, spice sellers filled the dusk with their earthy smells and hooded figures with painted smiles and no fixed gender swept down dim alleys. It was impossible to imagine the magical mystery of Marrakesh ever changing.
http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/destinations/morocco/article2503426.ece
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