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Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 16. Number 1, March 2025 Pp.320-335
Department of English, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco
Department of English, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco
This study examines how demographic and contextual features shape Universal Design for Learning adoption in Moroccan EFL classrooms, using quantitative methods. Its significance stems from persistent obstacles to Universal Design for Learning integration in the Moroccan context, especially amid top-down reforms aimed at broadening English instruction and updating curricula at the secondary level. By spotlighting the real-world implications of such initiatives, this inquiry raises the question: How do demographic profiles and resource availability affect Universal Design for Learning enactment, and to what extent do current reforms align with classroom realities? The analysis revealed that female teachers reported more barriers to Universal Design for Learning implementation than their male counterparts (t(106) = -2.254, p = .026). Digital materials exerted a beneficial effect on all Universal Design for Learning domains, with significant findings for engagement (t(106) = 2.246, p = .027), representation (t(106) = 2.402, p = .018), and action and expression (t(106) = 3.005, p = .003). Furthermore, regression analysis showed that age significantly predicted engagement (R² = .064, p = .008) and representation (R² = .049, p = .022). These patterns underscore the need for stronger technological infrastructure and more targeted support for female educators, thereby strengthening inclusive learning experiences.
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ElHoucine Boualili is a PhD student at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Dhar El Mehraz, Fez. His research focuses on Moroccan youth’s political participation through digital media. ORCid ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7620-7309
Abdelaziz El Bakkali, PhD in media and communication from the University of Mohamed V- Rabat, Morocco, is a professor at the faculty of letters Dhar El Mehraz, the University of Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah- Fez. He is a Fulbright Alumni and a visiting scholar at the University of Delaware, USA. He is specialized in language and cultural studies.
ORCid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0010-9802