The return to standard time (GMT), announced by the government for September 20 and formalized by a decree published in the Official Gazette, continues to spark widespread reactions. After years of opposition to GMT+1, introduced in 2018, many parents see this as a measure likely to improve the daily lives of familiies; particularly when it comes to waking up.
For Sara, a mother of two children attending a private school in Casablanca, this decision is a real breath of fresh air. “This is very good news. We’ll be able to return to a more natural rhythm, one that’s more in tune with our biological clock. The main change will be in the mornings: the children won’t have to go to school in the dark anymore, which should help them feel more alert and focused in class,” she hopes.
More peaceful mornings
Hala, another mother, shares this enthusiasm. For her, the return to GMT should put an end to what are often difficult mornings. “Standard time is much better aligned with children’s biological rhythms. When it’s still dark outside, they naturally feel like it’s still time to sleep, and it’s much harder to wake them up. From now on, mornings should be more peaceful, with less crying and complaining, ” she explains.
While this mother believes her daily routine won’t be drastically disrupted, she still expects a few adjustments. “Evenings might seem a little shorter, and the children will probably have to go to bed earlier. But the main change is still in the mornings, ” she adds.
The National Federation of Parents’ Associations in Morocco (FNAPEM) also welcomes the decision. Its president, Noureddine Akkouri, notes that this measure has been one of families’ main demands for several years. “GMT+1 posed a real problem for parents, especially in the fall and winter. Children had to leave for school while it was still dark, sometimes in the cold, and families were calling for a return to standard time, ” he explains to TelQuel.
For the federation, this situation took a toll on both the children’s well-being and their learning conditions. “Students had a harder time waking up, which could also affect their concentration in class,” he continued.
A schedule that raises questions
“We don’t understand why the change isn’t taking effect at the start of the school year. It would have made sense for students to start the year with the new schedule to avoid another adjustment period”
While the measure is well-received, its timing leaves the FNAPEM perplexed. The switch back to GMT will take place on September 20, by which time schools will have already started the school year. In the public sector, the start date is set for September 7, while French-language schools are expected to welcome their students as early as September 2.
“We don’t understand why the change isn’t taking effect right at the start of the school year. It would have made more sense for students to begin the year directly with the new schedule to avoid another adjustment period,” says Noureddine Akkouri. The federation also hopes that the start times for classes will not be changed . “Many parents want classes to continue starting at 8:30 a.m. This gives them time to drop off their children before heading to work, ” he emphasizes.
Parents’ associations are not the only ones questioning this schedule. As soon as the government made the announcement, several voices from the opposition raised concerns about the schedule. During his appearance before the House of Advisors on June 30, Parliamentary Advisor Khalid Es-Satte (UNTM) specifically asked why the government had decided to postpone the implementation of this measure rather than implement it immediately.
In response, Aziz Akhannouch cited organizational constraints related, in particular, to air travel and economic activity. This explanation did not fully convince his critics. Especially since some see it as a convenient coincidence in the timing: the transition will take place just three days before the legislative elections on September 23.
Sleep debt
Beyond how families feel about it, several experts believe that a schedule more closely aligned with natural light is beneficial to health. In an op-ed published in TelQuel in late June, Tayeb Hamdi, a physician and researcher in health policy and systems, noted that current knowledge in chronobiology points to a single conclusion: permanent standard time is the schedule that best respects the human biological rhythm.
According to him, exposure to natural light first thing in the morning plays an essential role in synchronizing our biological clock. Conversely, when we wake up in the dark, the body has a harder time regulating sleep, wakefulness, attention, and hormone secretion.
Children and adolescents are among the most affected groups. “When school starts early and children wake up in the dark, sleep debt can worsen, with possible consequences for learning, attention, and behavior in the classroom,” he emphasized.
The doctor also believed that, in the Moroccan context—where many students and workers commute early in the morning—a return to standard time and a more natural rhythm addresses health, educational, and social needs alike.
Still, students will have to wait a while to enjoy this more natural rhythm: it is only after the start of the school year, once new habits have been established, that mornings will finally begin to resemble what families dream of.
Written in French by Ghita Ismaili; edited in English by AngloMedia Group.
