House of Representatives Discusses Report of Thematic Working Group on Public Policies in Elementary Education
The House of Representatives held on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, a plenary sitting devoted to the presentation and discussion of the report prepared by the Thematic Working Group in Charge of Evaluating Public Policies in Elementary Education. The sitting, chaired by Speaker of the House of Representatives Habib El Malki, took place in the presence of Minister of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research and Government Spokesperson Said Amzazi, and Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports Othman El Ferdaous.
At the onset, the Speaker of the House of Representatives noted the sitting takes place in accordance with the provisions of Article 101 of the Constitution and the provisions of the Rules of Procedure of the House of Representatives, in particular Article 278. He added that this is the fourth event of its kind in the House of Representatives since introducing the evaluation prerogative in the Constitution. He said, "The evaluation of public policies is of great importance, because of its role in rectifying and improving public policies and programs, which was confirmed by the report of the Ad-hoc Committee for Development Model, which called for a greater emphasis on public policy evaluation, particularly parliamentary evaluation."
Mr. El Malki explained that elementary education is of utmost importance, as it is at the heart of the education system, lauding the particular attention that His Majesty King Mohammed VI gives to this large-scale project. In this respect, he recalled His Majesty's message to the participants in the “National Day on Elementary Education,” where His Majesty stated: “…As far as the reform of the education system is concerned, I am sure you all realize the importance of elementary education. Any reform should be based on this solid foundation, since it enables children to acquire mental and cognitive skills and abilities that ensure smooth access to learning and success in school, thereby reducing the risks of repeating a class or dropping out of school altogether.”
After that, the Chairperson of the Thematic Working Group, Ghita Badroun, and its rapporteurs Jamal Benchekroun Karimi and Hassan Adili, presented a report summary. The summary outlined the working methodology and evaluation criteria adopted for the preparation of the report and highlighted some constraints, including those relating to the spread of Covid-19. The Group members visited around thirty educational institutions in four regions: Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, Oriental, Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, and Casablanca-Settat. They also met with several Department of National Education officials, the Department of Youth and Sports, and representatives of the concerned civil society associations.
The report addressed a post-evaluation of previous programs, particularly the National Charter for Education and Training and the 2000-2015 Emergency Plan, as well as a timely assessment of the 2018-2028 National Program for the Generalization and Promotion of Elementary Education.
The Thematic Group came to several suggestions to improve public policies in elementary education and assess their real impact on the target category. The Group called for reviewing the training model for elementary education, particularly in the context of the pandemic, investing in the development, and researching future teaching methods for this category of children.
The report gave recommendations to strengthen the sector governance, thus increasing the number of beneficiaries and establishing a balance between urban and rural areas, modernizing the legal arsenal, and rehabilitating school structures and facilities. The recommendations also aim to establish partnerships with the various actors in the sector, improving educators' situation and working conditions, providing the necessary funds, and integrating African migrant and refugee children into the elementary education system.
On the educational and pedagogical level, the report stressed the need to reconsider educational programs and approaches and to consider the concept of mixed education based on the combination of face-to-face training and technological solutions that involve parents in the development of their children, calling for the elaboration of an inclusive education policy.
In their statements on behalf of the parliamentary groups and caucus, the representatives noted the importance of elementary education for future generations. They lauded the effort made in the preparation of the report, and at the same time, called for the need to establish an appropriate pedagogical framework for the elementary stage that covers teaching methods and quality standards. They also called for the adoption of a vision that touches educators' training while respecting parity and territorial equality principles.
The representatives also focused on the shortcomings that marked the elementary education sector previously, which have hindered its development and made it a weak traditional education that does not live up to the standards of quality and harmony. Besides, they stressed that the National Charter for Education and Training is an important step towards establishing an educational system in which elementary education is fundamental.
For his part, Minister of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research and Government Spokesperson Said Amzazi praised the observations, conclusion, and recommendations of the report and the interest given by the representatives to the educational system. The Minister stressed that the Ad-hoc Committee for Development Model had recommended establishing an integrated system for educational success in its report. The system would comprise five components, the most important of which is developing a quality elementary education based on a strong early childhood policy.
The Minister noted that the 2018-2028 National Program for the Generalization and Promotion of Elementary Education, launched on July 18, 2018, is a qualitative leap and a real take-off on the path towards upgrading elementary education. The Minister also highlighted the quantitative and qualitative developments in the provision of elementary education and provided data on the various recommendations in the Thematic Working Group report.
Minister for Culture, Youth, and Sports Othman El Ferdaous focused on the importance of elementary education in constructing children. He later reviewed the requirements for the organization of nurseries and children's sports, the plan for their generalization within the framework of the partnership between the public and private sectors, and provided details in the light of the report recommendations.
