The Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports, Chakib Bensmoussa presented Friday before the members of the Committee on Education, Culture and Communication in the House of Representatives an exhaustive presentation on the results of the reform of the education and training system as well as future prospects.
During this meeting centered on three main subjects proposed by the parliamentary groups, namely the roadmap for a quality public school for all (2022-2026), the implementation of the decentralization and deconcentration project in the sector and finally the methodology relating to the implementation of the open projects, the Minister noted that the reform of the education and training system is based on major references, in particular the conclusions of the New Development Model, as well as the framework law no 51-1 7 relating to the education and training system.
“The reform of the education and training system is not limited only to legal texts because it is also a question of measuring the impact of practical measures on education and this, in order to clearly define clear and major objectives and then bring together the conditions for their realization according to a process that is concerned with priorities in a progressive manner”, he underlined, before adding that the solutions must be adapted to local specificities.
Referring to the 2022-2026 roadmap, he focused on three strategic objectives, namely the quality of learning, the promotion of openness and civic-mindedness as well as compulsory education, indicating that the achievement of these objectives requires an approach based on the triptych: Student, Teacher and School.
Benmoussa underlined, in this regard, the importance for students to show openness and to acquire fundamental learning as teachers are supposed to have mastered their specialties and to promote the conditions for student success, adding that schools must be safe and welcoming while evolving in a framework conducive to cooperation between all actors.
Concerning the open sites, he said that preschool education represents a crucial stage promoting the achievement of excellent results throughout the school curriculum, exposing on this subject the indicators of public preschool education within the framework of delegated management during the 2022-2023 school year.
He indicated, on this register, that his department works in concert with the associations active in this field and this, to fill the deficit in terms of human resources, ensuring that the ministry provides the necessary financial support and ensures the follow-up of the results, while investing in the educational plans and the training of the supervisors.
Supporting figures, he reported 817 associations involved in this niche of cooperation with the ministry, including 256 parents’ associations, revealing that the number of classes is 26,783 including those created within the framework of the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH).
As for the number of pupils, it amounts to 571,000, of which 63% are in rural areas and 49% are girls.
Regarding the national educational support program, he mentioned the adoption of the Teaching at the Right Level (TarL) method, literally teaching at the right level, indicating that the number of teachers trained in this niche amounts to 11,000.
Benmoussa also mentioned the adoption of the project to support and develop the teaching of scientific subjects in colleges and high schools which concerns in its first experimental phase 250 colleges.
With regard, moreover, to public transport, necessary for the promotion of schooling in the rural world, he reported a partnership with the partners concerned, indicating that the number of beneficiaries of this service during the ending school year amounts to 500,000 students, an increase of around 20% compared to the past school year.
In terms of human resources management, the Minister reported the recruitment of 20,344 pedagogical and administrative staff, including 18,000 teachers.
On a completely different note, he affirmed that the implementation of the decentralization and deconcentration project is continuing in accordance with framework law no. 51-17 relating to the education and training system and through the revision of the law governing regional education and training academies. A project which aims to consolidate the effective autonomy of these academies within a contractual framework and also to achieve the necessary synergy in terms of resources, goods and equipment, he explained.
For their part, the members of the Committee on Education, Culture and Communication have, in turn, highlighted the provisions contained in the 2022-2026 roadmap, noting, however, the persistence of certain constraints linked to territorial disparities, especially in the areas of preschool education and school transport.
They also insisted on the necessary promotion of the values of citizenship in school textbooks or the enhancement of the status and material conditions of teachers in the regional education and training academies.