Paying for children's schooling on credit in Morocco
In Morocco, a school loan is consumer credit that banks and finance companies offer before the September return to pay enrolment, private school instalments, supplies and transport, alongside the direct social aid paid per child to eligible families.
The weight of private schooling in family budgets
In large cities such as Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier, a significant share of middle-class families send their children to private schools. Enrolment fees, monthly tuition, insurance and school transport all pile up in September.
Seasonal back-to-school offers
Every summer, Wafasalaf, Eqdom and the banks launch back-to-school loans ranging from a few thousand to a few tens of thousands of dirhams. These are standard personal loans, with repayment spread over the school year.
Foreign mission schools and high fees
French, Spanish and American schools in Morocco charge much higher fees than Moroccan private schools. Families concerned often cover these costs with a larger personal loan or with savings built up over time.
Direct social aid and child allowances
Since late 2023, direct social aid, which absorbed the former Tayssir programme, pays monthly allowances per child to households eligible under the unified social register. It reduces the need to borrow for low-income families.
The royal One Million Schoolbags initiative
Every school year, the royal initiative hands out schoolbags and supplies to pupils in public schools, with priority for rural areas and disadvantaged neighbourhoods. This support cuts back-to-school spending without any need for credit.
Education staff and social welfare services
National education staff can join the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Promotion of Social Welfare in Education and Training. It offers its members various social benefits that are worth checking before taking out a bank loan.
Paying the school in instalments without credit
Many Moroccan private schools accept monthly or quarterly payment of tuition fees. Negotiating this with the school often costs less than a loan, even though enrolment fees still have to be paid in one go.
From school loans to financing higher education
Once the child passes the national baccalaureate or a foreign diploma, financing changes in nature and amount. The guide to the student loan in Morocco presents Minhaty grants, loans with a grace period and the Enseignement Plus guarantee.
Credit cards and paying for supplies
Paying for supplies at a supermarket with a deferred-debit card pushes the expense back by a few weeks. Using revolving credit costs more, as the page on the credit card in Morocco explains.
When the school year collides with Eid and holidays
In some years, the return to school comes shortly after Eid al-Adha or the summer holidays of Moroccans abroad. Combining one loan for the sheep, another for the holidays and a third for school quickly strains the family budget.
Salary domiciliation and payroll deduction
Civil servants often repay through deductions from their salary, which makes approval easier. Private-sector employees have to domicile their salary, and self-employed workers show statements to prove the regularity of their income.
Back to school in Tunisia
In Tunisia, families face comparable back-to-school costs, with public schools playing a large role and banks offering seasonal loans. Our guide to the school loan in Tunisia lets you compare the approaches of the two countries.
Preparing to finance the Moroccan school year
- List in June each child's enrolment fees, monthly tuition, insurance, transport and supplies.
- Check eligibility for direct social aid allowances and the One Million Schoolbags initiative.
- Ask the private school to spread the fees before considering a loan.
- Compare back-to-school offers from banks and finance companies on the total cost in dirhams.
- Limit the loan term to the school year to avoid carrying two school years on the same loan.
Back-to-school spending and the cost of school credit
| Item | Benchmark | What makes it vary |
|---|---|---|
| Private school enrolment fees | Paid in one go in September | City, level, school reputation |
| Monthly tuition | Usually over ten months | School and cycle |
| Transport and school insurance | Annual or monthly package | Distance and provider |
| Back-to-school loan rate | Below the TMIC, promotions possible | Institution and profile |
| Arrangement fees | Sometimes waived in summer, indicative | Seasonal offer |
Papers for a back-to-school loan in Morocco
- CNIE of the borrowing parent
- Payslips or salary certificate
- Domiciliation or payroll deduction certificate
- Recent bank statements
- Invoice or payment schedule from the private school
Families' mistakes at the start of the school year
- Borrowing every year without having paid off the previous year's loan, which creates permanent debt.
- Ignoring the payment plan offered by the school and paying needless interest on fees that could be paid monthly.
- Combining an Eid loan, a holiday loan and a school loan, which pushes the debt ratio beyond the accepted limit.
- Trusting WhatsApp messages promising school aid in exchange for fees, when public aid is free.
Lenders to contact
- BMCI: Moroccan commercial retail bank active in providing financing solutions to individuals and businesses across the Moroccan market.
- Bank Assafa: Moroccan participative bank offering Sharia-compliant accounts and financing, including home Murabaha for individuals wishing to purchase residential property.
- Banque Populaire (Groupe BCP): Moroccan commercial bank offering individuals consumer credit products, including the Moujoud loan and personal car financing options for retail customers.
Answers for parents about Moroccan school loans
Is a school loan a specific product?
No, it is usually a personal loan marketed before the start of the school year, sometimes with reduced arrangement fees. It follows the rules of Law 31-08 and cannot exceed the maximum contractual interest rate.
Who can receive direct social aid for children?
Households registered in the unified social register whose socio-economic index is below the set threshold can receive allowances per child. Applications are made online and require no paid middleman.
Should parents borrow for a foreign mission school?
The decision depends on the budget for the whole of schooling, not just one year. Fees rise in secondary school, and a loan repeated every year can become a lasting burden for the family.
Can school transport be paid for on credit?
Yes, a back-to-school loan can cover transport and school insurance. It is often cheaper to negotiate a monthly payment with the provider or the school than to borrow that sum.