Self-Esteem and Creativity in Moroccan Primary Education: A Comparative study between State-run and Private School students of EL-Kelaa Des Sraghna as a case study

Abstract

The current study investigates the relationships between self-esteem and creativity among primary school students in Morocco. In this study, three different schools, private and state-run, situated in urban and suburban areas have been investigated. A total of 85 students participated in this study. The students belong to the 6th grade and their ages range from 11 to 12 years. The students’ self-esteem has been assessed using the widely used Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale (1989), whereas their creativity has been tested following Torrance test of Creative Thinking (1966; 1984). The teachers of these students were also interviewed about the issue in question. This research hypothesizes that students with high self-esteem are more likely to be creative than those with lower self-esteem. The study correlated results indicate significant relationships between self-esteem and students’ creative performance. Students who live in urban areas have higher self-esteem than those who live and study in the suburbs. Also, students who study in private schools have higher self-esteem and thus better creative performance. The study also shows that high-self-esteem is, in most cases, associated with females and hence their creative performance is higher than their male counterparts.