Moroccan School Reform
impact of the Pioneer Schools Program
Keywords:
Evidence-based. Structured pedagogies. Explicit teaching.Abstract
This article analyzes the impact of the Pioneering Schools Program (PEP), an initiative of the Moroccan 2022-2026 education reform, after one year of experimentation. The PEP employs structured pedagogies, explicit teaching, and the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach to address the learning crisis in public schools. Through four independent evaluations, the study assesses the program's effects on learning outcomes in Arabic, French, and mathematics in primary education. The results show significant gains, with an average effect size of 0.90 standard deviations, positioning the PEP among the most effective educational interventions in low- and middle-income countries. Success depends on evidence-based strategies, teacher training, strong leadership, and monitoring of learning through the MASSAR platform. The widespread implementation of the program in primary schools and its extension to secondary schools face challenges related to training, funding, and political resistance.
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