The number of beneficiaries of the non-formal education programme in the province of Khénifra reached 225 children for the year 2011-2012, according to figures from the provincial delegation of the Ministry of National Education.

The delegation's statistics specify that the number of beneficiaries of this second-chance school programme in rural areas amounts to 125 pupils, including 63 girls, and 100 in urban areas (49 girls).

Some 170 enrolled pupils benefited this year from school bags and school supplies, according to the same source, which adds that 225 textbooks were also distributed to the beneficiaries during the same year.

Seventeen beneficiary children are expected to take the reintegration exams this year, while 15 others presented themselves for the 6th-year primary cycle exams.

Furthermore, the same source recalls that a meeting of the provincial literacy commission was held recently with the participation of the various partners and stakeholders to take stock of the achievements made in this area. During this meeting, devoted to the presentation of the provincial action plan in the fields of literacy and non-formal education, the speakers called for the mobilisation of the various local actors concerned to respond effectively to this problem of out-of-school children and for more effort, particularly in terms of raising awareness among families and targeted categories, with a view to encouraging them to enrol in non-formal education or second-chance school programmes.

The second-chance school programme, which aims to fight against school dropout and illiteracy, targets the category of children aged between 6 and 15 who have never entered school or are victims of school dropout, it is recalled.