Ministry of Education Announces Suspension of Schooling in Earthquake-Affected Areas
Alalam24, The Ministry of National Education, Primary Education, and Sports announced on Sunday that schooling would be suspended in rural communities and villages most affected by the earthquake that struck the Al Hoceima region on the past Friday. This suspension will begin on September 11th and will continue in other regions
In coordination with local authorities, the ministry decided to suspend schooling in 42 rural communities distributed across the Al Hoceima, Chichaoua, and Taroudant regions, starting from the following Monday. Efforts will be made to provide suitable educational and logistical solutions to ensure the continuity of education for affected students in the coming days
Details regarding these solutions will be announced later by regional academies and educational institutions, while continuous coordination with local authorities and communication with parents and stakeholders will be maintained
For institutions that are damaged beyond the ability to receive students, measures will be taken to provide appropriate educational alternatives, including utilizing nearby educational institutions, while ensuring ongoing communication with parents and stakeholders
The statement also affirmed that schooling would continue as usual in other educational institutions throughout the country. A reading of the Quranic verse Al-Fatiha will be held on Monday to remember the earthquake victims, following the national anthem
The crisis teams, at both central and regional levels, are working to assess the casualties among education and training staff, as well as the physical damages to educational institutions. They are also working to find suitable solutions to ensure educational continuity while collaborating with public and local authorities
As of this morning, the provisional figures indicate that seven teachers (four male and three female) lost their lives, and 39 teachers (both male and female) sustained various injuries as a result of the earthquake
Regarding damaged educational buildings, the statement mentioned that a total of 530 educational institutions and 55 boarding schools suffered varying degrees of damage, ranging from collapse to significant cracks. These damages are concentrated in the Al Hoceima, Chichaoua, and Taroudant regions
Technical teams, composed of engineers and construction experts, have been mobilized to prepare technical assessments for each affected educational institution. These assessments will include the condition of the institutions, recorded damages, and the necessary interventions for reconstruction or rehabilitation, with the goal of expediting the return of students to their classrooms
The decision to suspend schooling in certain areas was made due to the precarious conditions of some educational institutions, requiring specialized technical assessments for potential repair, rehabilitation, or reconstruction to ensure the safety of students and staff
In terms of social and psychological support, efforts will be made to provide counseling and psychological support to students in the most affected areas to help them cope with the emotional impact of the earthquake and resume their studies effectively
Furthermore, the Ministry of Education will collaborate with the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Promotion of Social Work in Education and Training to offer psychological support to affected teachers who seek it, as well as provide assistance to the families of education and training staff affected by the earthquake
The ministry assured that it is taking all necessary measures to ensure the continuity of the educational process following this earthquake. It expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the victims, including those from the education and training community, and wished for the quick recovery of the injured. The ministry called for a comprehensive mobilization of all stakeholders to overcome the repercussions of this earthquake on the national education system
