Skip to main content

Inside Morocco’s digital divide: girls fighting for education in lockdown

While the internet has kept many going through coronavirus lockdowns, the digital divide could mean that many Moroccan students will fall behind.
Children sit in a classroom at a school in the Moroccan village of Taghzirt, in el-Haouz province in the High Atlas Mountains south of the capital of Marrakech, on March 4, 2016.
When using well-known search engines, one can find very few information about Taghzirt village. And while tourists from all around the world enjoy the sun warm days and the snow-covered view of the nearby mountains from Marrakesh, hundreds of villagers suffer from the harshness of winter and isolation, due to the state of the roads

Set deep within the High Atlas mountains of Morocco, the village of Asni is quiet after sunset when the dry air turns bitterly cold. While the people of Asni sleep, one young woman — Ghita Moulid — remains awake.

The blue light from her old laptop illuminates her face as she diligently takes notes from the screen. The 20-year-old university student sits on the floor, huddled in blankets and rugs against the cold.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.