Rabat – Moroccan students and teachers can now visit national museums free of charge two days a week, the Ministry of Education said on Tuesday.
The news comes following an agreement signed by Morocco’s Minister of Education, Preschool, and Sports Chakib Benmoussa and President of the National Foundation of Museums (FNM) Mehdi Qotbi, just a day earlier.
The agreement will enable students and the education personnel from all regional academies of education and training to visit national museums for free on Wednesdays and Fridays, the Education Ministry said in a statement.
The partnership aims to increase youth exposure to museums and spread various forms of artistic and cultural expression relating to Morocco’s heritage, the statement added.
Benmoussa stressed that this agreement came after the Ministry and the FNM recognized that cultural and artistic education is an essential element in achieving cultural democracy and the equal right to access cultural spaces.
The Ministry of Education places cultural openness, both inside and outside schools, at the center of Morocco’s educational reform, Benmoussa said.
Benmoussa noted that museums are important educational environments, highlighting their role in promoting artistic and cultural education, refining students’ personalities, and expanding their knowledge in various fields.
The agreement took place during the opening of the “Dar Jamai” National Museum of Music in Meknes.
After months of preparation work, Dar Jamai museum opened its doors for visitors, offering a rich collection of musical instruments collected from various museums across Morocco.
The museum was set up in the Dar Jamai, a historic building that dates back to the end of the 19th century during the reign of Sultan Moulay Hassan I.
Morocco homes several contemporary art museums and galleries, displaying the rich religious, cultural, and historical heritage of the kingdom.
