Moroccan Sahara: New Campus of Lycée Français International Paul Pascon Inaugurated in Laayoune
The new campus of Lycée Français International Paul Pascon, part of the MLF Maroc network, was inaugurated on Wednesday in Laayoune in the presence of the French Ambassador to Rabat, Christophe Lecourtier, along with a host of Moroccan and French personalities.
Built on a two-hectare site, including 3,500 square meters of constructed space, the French educational institution further confirms France’s continued commitment to education and Moroccan youth, while illustrating the vitality of Franco-Moroccan cooperation in the service of learning and knowledge.
The new facilities will significantly increase the school’s capacity, allowing it to welcome up to 600 students from kindergarten through high school graduation, with accreditation for all levels and multilingual teaching that includes Arabic, English, and Spanish.
Speaking to the press, the French ambassador to Morocco said that culture and education hold a central place in bilateral cooperation relations, noting that the institution reflects the ability of both countries to deliver ambitious projects in support of youth and their shared future.
He added that the project, completed in just over a year, forms part of the implementation of commitments made by French President Emmanuel Macron during his state visit to Morocco in 2024 at the invitation of King Mohammed VI.
The inauguration symbolizes not only practical cooperation between the two countries, but also their shared commitment to youth, particularly the youth of Laayoune, he said.
The ambassador also highlighted the development momentum taking place across the region, stressing that projects of this kind reflect a forward-looking vision built on strong partnerships and concrete initiatives spanning multiple sectors.
In this context, he referred to other efforts aimed at strengthening Franco-Moroccan cooperation in the southern provinces, particularly through educational, cultural, and economic projects.
He also announced the upcoming opening of a French Alliance in Laayoune, intended to promote cultural exchange and the sharing of knowledge.
The ambassador further praised the strength of relations between Morocco and France, founded on mutually beneficial friendship and a shared determination to build concrete projects serving populations and development.
For his part, the President of the MLF Monde network, Christian Masset, said that with this new campus, “we are reaching a decisive milestone,” describing it as a place designed not only for learning, but also for personal growth, experimentation, and creativity.
“That is why the school includes major facilities, notably science laboratories, knowledge centers, sports areas, and classrooms adapted to every age group,” he explained.
Meanwhile, MLF Monde Director General Jean Marc Merriaux said that the school, which is part of a major international network of more than 100 institutions, will allow students to engage more deeply with intercultural values and better understand the challenges of the modern world.
Earlier in the day, Lecourtier and the accompanying delegation held talks with the wali of the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region and governor of Laayoune province, the president of the municipal council, and the president of the regional council. Discussions focused notably on the broad development momentum in the region, as well as strengthening cultural and educational ties in the southern provinces.
The inauguration ceremony of the institution, originally opened in 2012, was attended in particular by the wali of the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region and governor of Laayoune province, the president of the communal council, the president of the regional council, the Director General of the French Institute in Morocco, Agnes Humruzian, as well as elected officials and figures from the associative and cultural sectors.
Editorial team/le7tv
