The First Lady of the United States of America, Jill Biden, visited, on Monday in Marrakech, the Lycée collégial Ibn Al Arif, which benefited from the “Secondary Education” project under the “Compact II” cooperation program concluded between the government of the Kingdom of Morocco and the government of the United States of America.
The First Lady of the United States thus made a tour through the various spaces of this Collegiate High School, which is one of the 90 beneficiary schools in the Marrakech-Safi, Fez-Meknes and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima regions, from “Secondary Education” project under the “Compact II” cooperation program, concluded between the Government of Morocco and the Government of the United States of America, represented by Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and whose implementation has been entrusted at the Millennium Challenge Account–Morocco Agency (MCA-Morocco).
Thus, explanations were provided to Jill Biden on the “Secondary Education” program and its implementation at the level of the Ibn Al Arif college high school.
This visit, which comes after the closure of the “Compact II” cooperation program, recorded on March 31, 2023, also served as an opportunity for the First Lady of the United States to learn about the achievements made within the framework of the deployment of the “Attahadi High School” model, the main component of the “Secondary Education” project, at the level of this school in terms of strengthening its efficiency and improving learning and the results obtained by the students.
Indeed, the deployment of the “Attahadi High School” model consisted of providing integrated support to the target secondary education establishments, focusing on strengthening their administrative and financial autonomy, promoting a pedagogy centered on the student and the improvement of the physical learning environment, through adequate rehabilitation of school infrastructure and the supply of equipment necessary for educational innovation.
At the same time, Jill Biden met with the students and teachers, the main beneficiaries of the investments made at this school, in particular the members of the School Clubs dedicated to Robotics and Life-Skills. These investments are intended to strengthen students’ individual and professional skills, develop their leadership and communication potential and improve their employability.
Intended exclusively for college secondary schools, 62 in all, in the three target regions, this material benefits nearly 52,730 students annually.
The Ibn Al Arif Collegiate High School was also equipped with computer and didactic equipment to support the implementation of the “Attahadi High School” model.
This school has also benefited from appropriate infrastructure development work aimed at improving the learning environment for the benefit of some 1,200 enrolled students.
This work focused, in particular, on the construction of a multi-purpose block (refreshment bar, library and infirmary), the rehabilitation of the existing library into an orientation and listening area, the reorganization of the existing changing rooms and the development of space for bicycles.
Upon her arrival at the Ibn Al Arif college high school, Mrs. Jill Biden was welcomed by the Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports, Chakib Benmoussa, the Wali of the Marrakech-Safi Region, governor of the Prefecture of Marrakech, Karim Kassi-Lahlou, the United States Ambassador to Morocco, Puneet Talwar, the Director General of the MCA-Morocco Agency, Malika Laasri, the Director of the Regional Academy of Education and Training (AREF) of Marrakech -Safi, Ahmed Karimi, as well as by the Resident Director of MCC in Morocco, Carrie Monahan.
Subsequently the First Lady of the United States of America left Marrakech after a three-day visit to Morocco.
The visit to Morocco by Jill Biden, accompanied by her daughter Ashley Biden and her sister Bobby Jacobs, was a new opportunity to highlight the centuries-old relations of partnership and friendship that have always existed between the Kingdom and the United States. United of America.
“The United States is grateful for its centuries-old partnership and friendship with Morocco. Under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Morocco is encouraging reforms aimed at empowering women and young people, which reflects our common priorities,” she said in a speech delivered on Sunday in Marrakech.