At the start of the school year, significant changes took place in Murcia: the program that allowed children to study Arabic and learn about Moroccan culture is no longer in effect. This was a result of political agreements between the People’s Party and Vox, who had struggled to reach a consensus on the 2025 budget. Ultimately, one of the conditions was the discontinuation of support for such initiatives in the region’s schools.
Since 2012, children in Murcia, mainly from Moroccan families, had the opportunity to attend additional classes in Arabic language and culture. The program covered only 10 out of 700 educational institutions, and the number of participants did not exceed 350—a small fraction of the total student body in the autonomous community. Despite its limited scale, this project became a focal point after Vox representatives insisted on its cancellation in the regional parliament.
Previously, local authorities emphasized that funding did not come from Murcia’s budget but was provided by the Ministry of Education and the Moroccan diplomatic mission. However, after the new agreement was signed between the PP and Vox—which explicitly states the refusal to support programs related to Arabic language and culture—the situation changed. These classes are no longer held in the region’s schools, and officials have been in no hurry to disclose details of the decision.
For many families whose children participated in the program, this came as an unexpected blow. The classes were always held outside the main curriculum and were voluntary. Teachers sent from Morocco helped not only with teaching, but also in establishing communication between the school and parents, which contributed to better adaptation of the children and reduced early school dropout rates. Now, according to representatives of the Moroccan community, an important tool for integration and support for migrants is disappearing.
