Social Policy Assessment: A Structural Transformation of the Relationship Between the Citizen and the State

“The essence of public policy remains singular: placing the human being at the heart of every decision and every reform.”

These are the words of the Head of Government, fully aware that social rights are no longer a favor granted by the State, but have become a constitutional right that it is committed to guaranteeing.

This repositioning naturally falls within the framework of the strategic orientations set in motion by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, as Aziz Akhannouch has repeatedly recalled. The social State project, long evoked in official speeches, has thus entered a phase of concrete implementation.

“This endeavor is no longer confined to texts; it has become a tangible reality in the daily lives of millions of Moroccans,” the Head of Government assured.

An Expanded Social Safety Net for All Moroccans

At the heart of this policy shift, the generalization of social protection stands out as the most emblematic project. The government has succeeded in a massive extension of health insurance coverage, integrating approximately 15.5 million new beneficiaries into the basic system.

This progress has not come without a significant budgetary effort. The State has assumed responsibility for contributions exceeding 27 billion dirhams on behalf of the most vulnerable categories under the AMO‑Tadamon scheme, illustrating—according to the Head of Government—a clear commitment to giving concrete substance to the principle of solidarity.

“Solidarity is not merely rhetoric; it is a real financial commitment,” he insisted.

Beyond the figures, the Executive advocates a structural transformation of the relationship between citizens and the State, in which social protection becomes a guaranteed right rather than sporadic assistance.

In the same spirit, the government has launched an unprecedented system of direct social assistance, marking a break with the fragmented approaches of the past. This reform aims to rationalize existing programs and improve the targeting of beneficiaries.

“We have opened a new chapter in the history of national solidarity,” Akhannouch declared.

In concrete terms, nearly 4 million families now benefit from this assistance, amounting to a total of 52 billion dirhams by the end of January 2026.

The Head of Government placed particular emphasis on the organizational dimension of the reform, noting that it relies on “a new approach based on precise targeting and improved governance mechanisms” in order to avoid the dispersal of efforts and enhance the effectiveness of public policies.

Rebuilding Trust in Public Services

Another major reform relates to the health system, which illustrates a profound transformation that goes beyond short‑term measures to address the very foundations of the sector.

“We have launched a comprehensive structural reform aimed at rebuilding the health system on new foundations,” Akhannouch emphasized.

This ambition has been accompanied by a substantial budgetary effort: over a five‑year period, the sector’s budget has more than doubled, rising from under 20 billion dirhams in 2021 to over 42 billion in 2026.

“Health is not a financial burden; it is an investment in human capital,” the Head of the Executive recalled.

Beyond financial resources, the government highlights a comprehensive strategy centered on infrastructure modernization, improved governance, and the enhancement of human resources.

“A demotivated physician and an under‑equipped hospital cannot deliver health services worthy of the citizen,” the Head of Government acknowledged, pointing to weaknesses inherited from the existing system.

One of the major pillars of the reform is the reduction of territorial disparities. Digitalization, in turn, is regarded as a key lever for ensuring greater equity between urban and rural areas.

“There should be no difference in access to healthcare between a citizen living in an urban center and another residing in a remote region,” he affirmed.

In this context, the government has launched a wide‑scale program to upgrade primary healthcare centers. A first phase covered approximately 1,400 facilities, followed by a second phase targeting an even larger number.

At the same time, hospital capacity has been strengthened through the completion of several dozen projects between 2022 and 2025, adding thousands of beds nationwide.

The year 2026 marks the continuation of this effort, with the construction of new hospitals and the scheduling of additional projects, reflecting an ongoing expansion of healthcare provision.

Aware that infrastructure alone is insufficient, the Executive has also invested in medical education. The country now has eleven medical schools, following the creation of new institutions designed to reduce the geographic concentration of training opportunities.

“Any region without medical training institutions remains hostage to healthcare centralization,” Akhannouch warned.

Education: Investing in the Future

In his address, the Head of Government also devoted considerable attention to reforming the education system, viewed as a strategic pillar of national development.

“A State that fails to educate its children undermines its capacity to confront future challenges,” he stated.

The government has therefore adopted a comprehensive approach aimed at improving access to education, educational quality, and equity.

One priority has been the expansion of preschool education, which now reaches a coverage rate of 80 percent, benefiting nearly one million children. This effort is seen as essential to reducing inequalities from an early age.

At the primary level, the model of “schools of excellence” has expanded dramatically—from a few hundred institutions to several thousand—now serving approximately 2 million students. This momentum is expected to continue, covering the majority of schools in the near future.

The model has also been extended to lower secondary education, with several hundred institutions involved and a significant number of students benefiting.

Improving learning conditions and providing family support—particularly in rural areas—have also been key strategic priorities. As a result, the number of students benefiting from boarding facilities and school transportation has increased substantially.

In addition, financial assistance for the start of the school year has been granted to millions of students, reflecting a commitment to easing the financial burden of education on families.

A series of reforms aimed at improving the professional status of teachers has also been completed.

“Restoring dignity and recognition to women and men of education is a structural priority,” Akhannouch insisted.

Agreements reached with trade unions have made it possible to adopt a new professional status for hundreds of thousands of public‑sector employees and to definitively resolve the issue of contract teachers.

These measures have been accompanied by significant salary increases, representing a substantial cost to public finances.

Social Dialogue: A Revival with Tangible Impact

The revival of social dialogue has been another major achievement of the Akhannouch government, which has consistently viewed engagement with social partners as a lever for stability and progress.

Agreements reached have led to income improvements for millions of workers in both the public and private sectors. These measures were paired with tax reforms designed to ease the burden on lower incomes and strengthen household purchasing power.

“A decent wage is not merely a social demand; it is also a key driver of economic development,” the Head of Government emphasized.

Against a backdrop of global economic turbulence, the government has introduced measures to protect household purchasing power.

“We did not leave the Moroccan citizen alone in the face of uncertainty,” Akhannouch assured.

The State mobilized substantial resources through the compensation fund to stabilize the prices of essential goods, thereby preventing—according to the Executive—a more severe deterioration in living conditions.

This outlines the portrait of a Morocco engaged in a profound social transformation, characterized by massive investment and structural reforms.

“We have succeeded in re‑orienting the compass of investment toward genuine social priorities,” the Head of Government concluded.

Amid high social expectations, budgetary constraints, and structural challenges, the bet on consolidating the foundations of the social State has already been won, as these initial results demonstrate.