Moroccan authorities are prioritizing the development of citizens' digital skills. As part of this effort, they signed an agreement in late February to establish a specialized coding school in the Fès-Meknès region.

The Moroccan government will train children in digital skills and artificial intelligence as part of a national strategy to enhance its digital workforce.

An agreement was signed for that purpose on  Saturday, March 8, between several stakeholders, under the supervision of Amal El Fallah-Seghrouchni, the Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform.

The partnership also includes the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University.

"This national program aims to introduce children to digital technologies and artificial intelligence through training workshops while instilling in them a responsible and secure use of digital tools," the ministry said in a press release published on social media. "Adopting an inclusive approach, this initiative seeks to support young digital talents across the Kingdom to integrate them into the country's digital transformation dynamic."

The initiative aligns with Morocco's ambition to "develop a pool of high-quality digital talent," as outlined in the Digital Morocco 2030 strategy. The Kingdom also aims to move up the value chain and strengthen its position in the outsourcing and digital export sectors.

In late February, an agreement was signed to establish a specialized school for programming and coding in the Fès-Meknès region.

The program could prepare Moroccan children for a rapidly evolving job market driven by accelerated digital transformation. According to the World Bank estimates, by 2030, nearly 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills. While Morocco is not part of Sub-Saharan Africa, the projection underscores the strategic importance of digital skills training in supporting the digital transition of African countries.

By Isaac K. Kassouwi,

Editing by Sèna D. B. de Sodji