Tuition fees for the Belgian school in Casablanca have recently become available. This is an opportunity to summarise the cost of schooling in the French-speaking foreign school networks.
Indeed, the management of the Ecole Belge de Casablanca had announced fees at the level of those charged in the OSUI – AEFE network. In reality, they are much higher!
What’s more, it is difficult to understand the difference in cost between Moroccan and Belgian pupils, given that the Belgian School has always claimed that it receives no subsidies from the Belgian state or the Walloon region.
The price for pupils of Moroccan nationality is 35% to 42% higher than the price for pupils of Belgian nationality! In the absence of subsidies, there is clearly discrimination on the basis of nationality, which is all the more shocking given that it is prohibited by the Belgian constitution!
How much does it cost to attend the Belgian school in Casablanca?
The first enrolment fee is 35,000 dirhams. There are discounts for families: -20% for the second child, -30% for three or more children.
Next, here is the table of annual tuition fees:
| Belgian pupils | Moroccan pupils | Difference | |
| Nursery | 33,000 dirhams | 47,000 dirhams | 42% |
| Primary | 39,900 dirhams | 57,000 dirhams | 43% |
| Secondary | 46,900 dirhams | 67,000 dirhams | 35% |
In comparison, tuition fees at French schools are lower
Il existe deux types d’écoles françaises au Maroc (en dehors des écoles privées marocaines proposant des études françaises) : les écoles qui appartiennent au réseau de l’AEFE et qui sont partiellement subventionnées par l’état français, et celles du réseau OSUI, qui sont, quant à elles, totalement auto-financées.
Les frais de scolarité dans les établissements AEFE
| French pupils | Moroccan pupils | Other nationalities |
|
| Nursery | 28,760 dirhams | 38,030 dirhams | 49,550 dirhams |
| Primary | 25,350 dirhams | 33,630 dirhams | 43,530 dirhams |
| College | 28,640 dirhams | 37,910 dirhams | 56,950 dirhams |
| Lycée | 28,640 dirhams | 37,910 dirhams | 56,950 dirhams |
(Source: cultural service of the French embassy, which centralises enrolment procedures in the AEFE network).
The initial enrolment fees are 14,000, 20,000 and 23,000 dirhams respectively, with a reduction of 3,000 dirhams for siblings. This is the only reduction that applies to families.
It should be noted that ‘other nationalities’ (i.e. Belgians in particular) pay even more than Moroccans; in this sense, Belgian school fees are advantageous for them. However, if Yabiladi is to be believed, Moroccan Belgians find these fees far too high!
Les frais de scolarité dans les établissements OSUI
| Minimum | Maximum | Cheapest | Most expensive |
|
| Nursery | 31,.500 dirhams | 40,000 dirhams | Paul Pascon (Laayoune) | Tabarly (Essaouira) |
| Primary | 31,500 dirhams | 40,000 dirhams | Paul Pascon (Laayoune) | Tabarly (Essaouira) |
| College | 33,000 dirhams | 42,000 dirhams | Majorelle (Marrakech) | Tabarly (Essaouira) |
| Lycée | 50,400 dirhams | 55,700 dirhams | Le Détroit (Tanger) | Lycée français Agadir |
(Sources: schools and cultural department of the French embassy).
The final comparison: cost of a complete education
We have based our comparison on a complete schooling, from nursery to final year, without repeating a year. The prices are those for the start of the 2014 – 2015 school year. They are regularly increased (the last increase in OSUI schools was 5%).
(Details of the calculations can be found in an excel file sent to our subscribers).
In the AEFE network, which is partially subsidised by the French government, the cost is €39,700 for a French child and €52,800 for a Moroccan child.
In OSUI schools, which are not subsidised, the average cost is 58,100 euros.
At Belgian schools, the cost is €64,500 for a Belgian child and €88,000 for a Moroccan child.
The AEFE network, whose schools are highly rated, is by far the cheapest!
Discount opportunities
For the French network, whether OSUI or AEFE, there are numerous possibilities for grants, depending on income.
In addition, parents who teach in the network benefit from substantial discounts (80% in AEFE schools).
If your company sends you to Morocco
Whether you are already a parent, or are planning to become one, having your employer cover the cost of your child’s schooling is a huge plus, and one that you will need to negotiate at least in part. It’s best to send your children to school in this network if you want to ensure a smooth education and an easy return to France.
Prices updates
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