Multiculturalism, citizenship, and education in Morocco

Abstract

Morocco has a long history of multiculturalism and language contact; however, this characteristic has become more prominent as a consequence of the expansion of education after independence. This paper investigates how multiculturalism and citizenship in Moroccan society impact on the system of education. It provides a framework that enriches the discussion of multiculturalism and citizenship by highlighting the role that education plays in the development and management of multiculturalism and citizenship. The paper discusses the interlocked phenomena of multiculturalism, citizenship, and education from an interdisciplinary standpoint, analysing and explaining the synchronic relationships between them. The educational system must address the linguistic and cultural diversity inherent in multicultural Morocco, from the human rights and intercultural learning perspectives. Its purpose is not to teach the role of multiculturalism in official curricula, but to construct an approach to intercultural learning that promotes citizenship, dialogue, mutual understanding, and living together. Such an approach differs from the monocultural approach still existent in many North African and Middle Eastern curricula.