Morocco: “Creative Boarding Schools” Program Transforms Student Life in Fès-Meknès Region

Sefrou Internats Créatifs: A Renewed Ambition for School Support

Long confined to their function of providing accommodation for students from remote areas, school boarding facilities are now being called upon to assume a broader educational role. In the Fès-Meknès region, the “Internats Créatifs” (Creative Boarding Facilities) program aims to support this evolution by transforming these structures into genuine spaces for school life, combining academic support, cultural activities, and personal development. This initiative comes as more than ten thousand students have been reintegrated into the school system across the region, signaling a positive trend in educational access.

A Shift in Focus: From Accommodation to Education

At Sefrou, the boarding facility at Moulay Ali Chérif High School recently hosted a stage of this program, led by the Regional Academy of Education and Training (AREF) of Fès-Meknès as part of its action plan for the 2025-2026 school year. The meeting was attended by the director of the Academy, the provincial director of education in Sefrou, and several provincial officials and administrative staff. This initiative is part of a dynamic aimed at accelerating the transformation of schools through regional support and assistance mechanisms.

For many students from rural areas, boarding facilities often represent the very condition for continuing their education. Improving the living conditions and academic support appears as a key lever for strengthening the attractiveness of these structures and supporting academic success. The program builds on improvements to boarding facilities, such as those seen through the “Internats créatifs” project, and the development of school transportation, all contributing to a more accessible and appealing educational environment. You can find more information about regional projects at the Région Fès Meknès website.

Evaluating Conditions and Services at Sefrou

The visit to the boarding facility in Sefrou allowed officials to assess the accommodation conditions and services offered to boarding students. The meeting also included several workshops organized within the boarding facility, combining academic support sessions, cultural practices, and sports activities. Students participated in reinforcement sessions designed to consolidate their learning. Other workshops offered spaces for expression and creativity through various artistic disciplines and physical activities.

The meeting was also marked by artistic performances presented by the students. Theater, poetry, and cultural animations revealed talents rarely seen in the strict context of courses. These sequences illustrate the objective of making the boarding facility a place of expression and valorization of individual abilities.

The “Internats Créatifs” Approach: A Holistic Education

The “Internats Créatifs” program is based on a holistic educational approach. It encourages the regular animation of school clubs dedicated to theater, poetry, or the plastic arts. It also provides for the organization of academic support sessions to improve academic results and encourage excellence. Educational and psychological support mechanisms complement this system to support students in their personal and academic journey.

In this new configuration, the boarding facility is gradually transforming into a structured educational environment where the school day is extended by supervised activities. Evening classes allow students to consolidate their learning, while cultural and sports activities contribute to the balance and development of boarders.

A Regional Shift in Educational Policy

This orientation reflects a broader evolution of educational policies at the regional level. The boarding facility is no longer just a place of accommodation, but a genuine educational space in its own right. The challenge is to create the conditions for academic success while supporting the personal development of students. This initiative echoes a wider effort to reintegrate students into the school system, with 10,166 students rejoining the system in Fès-Meknès.

Through this initiative, the AREF Fès-Meknès seeks to restore boarding facilities to a central place in the dynamics of the public school. The experience conducted in Sefrou illustrates this desire to transform these structures into active educational spaces. If this dynamic is confirmed, boarding facilities could be an essential lever for strengthening equal opportunities and consolidating the school careers of students from the most remote territories. The improvements, including enhanced boarding facilities and school transport, are designed to make school more attractive, particularly for young girls in rural areas, as highlighted in a report from Universitatv.com.

Y.S.A