Ali Ben Salem

Moroccan educator who built the first rural school network for girls in North Africa

Ali Ben Salem (1905-1975) was a progressive educator from Morocco who transformed access to education for girls in the Maghreb region. In 1932, he founded the Salem Schools Network, establishing 15 girls' schools in remote Berber villages despite colonial opposition. His innovative curriculum integrated French language instruction with traditional Amazigh culture, creating a bridge between modernity and heritage.

Ali's 1948 publication 'Education Without Borders' argued that girls' education was essential for national development. He developed a teacher training program that produced over 300 female educators by 1955, many of whom became leaders in post-independence Morocco. His schools used solar-powered classrooms decades before such technology became widespread.

In 1963, he launched the Salem Literacy Initiative, which taught reading to over 20,000 rural women by 1970. His work inspired similar programs in Algeria and Tunisia, contributing to North Africa's current female literacy rates. The UNESCO Ali Ben Salem Award now honors educators promoting gender equality in education.