This article coincides with the start of the school year, a season that annually revives discussions about the level of students in Morocco compared to their peers worldwide. It highlights reports from international educational organizations that place Morocco in concerning rankings regarding intelligence measures, which understandably surprises families and those interested in education.

However, if we move beyond cold statistics and reflect on daily life details, we discover that solutions are not out of reach but may be closer than we imagine. The key lies in investing in children’s passion and natural curiosity instead of confining them within strict curricula, transforming the learning journey from a heavy burden into an inspiring “adventure.”

Moroccan children, like others, demonstrate amazing skills in areas never formally taught to them, from using smartphones to mastering digital games and quickly adapting to new communication platforms. This paradox raises a fundamental question:

Is the problem with the “children’s intelligence” or with how we harness their curiosity and enthusiasm?

When we reflect on our daily experiences, we find that what settles in our minds is not always what we were forced to learn but what we approached with internal motivation. Thus, some knowledge fades quickly while others remain alive and shape our consciousness.

The mind does not grow evenly when forced to acquire knowledge but when nourished by passion because curiosity charged with enthusiasm is the real fuel that drives a person to discover the unknown.

Newton did not discover the laws of gravity because he was forced to in a classroom but because he was driven by a passion to understand nature. Enthusiasm made him ask the simple question:

Why does the apple fall down?

An artist will not create an immortal painting if they paint only for exams or salary. But when painting is driven by internal enthusiasm, the canvas becomes a new language, and the paint a concept immortalized in the viewer’s consciousness.

A student forced to memorize a physics lesson may forget it quickly, but if passionate about dismantling machines, their curiosity drives them to dive into knowledge eagerly and gain solid understanding.

Today, we all hold phones and type with our thumbs, and children master this movement astonishingly fast, not because they trained in school or received lessons but because their enthusiasm for communication and play pushes their minds and muscles to adapt quickly.

A child’s mind develops as they discover how to use their thumbs on a phone keyboard driven by enthusiasm. The human mind generally develops in any field when propelled by the same internal energy emanating from curiosity and passion.

A child asked to memorize a long lesson without desire becomes tired and bored, but the same child can learn in minutes how to send emojis and animated pictures on the phone because they are excited to do so.

Thus, the mind develops as much as it feeds on enthusiasm, and knowledge sought with passion leaves a deep impact and yields creativity.

The start of the school year can be a moment for those responsible for managing the sector to reflect and answer important questions such as:

How do we transform education from a heavy burden into an enjoyable journey?

How do we invest in children’s passion instead of killing their curiosity?

Only then will intelligence scores become mere details because enthusiastic minds create miracles beyond traditional test measures.