After parents of students residing in Morocco opposed the increase in the number of hours of Arabic language teaching for their children in a school under the Agency for French Education Abroad ( AEFE) in Rabat, the French Council of State ruled on the legitimacy of adding two additional hours per week for this teaching.
The Council of State, the highest administrative court in France, based its decision on the French Constitution, a cultural partnership treaty with Morocco, a declaration of intent concerning French educational establishments in Morocco, as well as other local laws. It thus validated the addition of two hours per week to the teaching of the Arabic language, which are added to the three hours initially planned. This measure concerns students in CE1 and CE2 classes, although parents contested this decision, arguing that their children did not have Moroccan nationality.
Regarding the André Chénier elementary school in Rabat, affiliated with the AEFE, the French court annulled a previous judicial decision from 2023 which had accepted the parents’ complaint, which would have resulted in the removal of the addition of the two teaching hours.
Among the elements taken into account in the decision is the special status of French establishments in Morocco. Students of Moroccan nationality must benefit from weekly instruction in Arabic culture and language of a minimum duration of five hours, Arabic being one of the two official languages of the Kingdom.
For students of foreign nationality, this teaching is reduced to a minimum of three hours per week, in accordance with the French framework for foreign languages. In addition, these students can follow education in a “ foreign language » for a non-linguistic subject as part of the educational program. This approach takes into account “ specific situations » establishments abroad and is part of a logic of strengthening educational cooperation with foreign systems.
Khalid Samadi, former Secretary of State at the Ministry of Education, commented on the decision, saying: “ French justice rules in favor of the Arabic language. Finally, the highest judicial authority in France settled the dispute by validating the legality of the addition of two hours of Arabic language teaching at the André Chénier school, affiliated with the French mission in Rabat. This decision is based on the partnership and cooperation agreement signed between Morocco and France, which I had the honor of initialing on behalf of the Moroccan government with my French counterpart. ».
This judgment, he added, arises from the implementation of the provisions of framework law 51-17 relating to the education system, in force in the Moroccan education system. This law requires the teaching of the Arabic language and subjects linked to national identity for Moroccan children enrolled in foreign mission schools.
Samadi also expressed his astonishment at this case brought before the French courts in 2019 by Moroccan parents themselves, who requested the annulment of the decision to add two hours of Arabic teaching. Likewise, this situation aroused the incomprehension of many observers.
