Social Sectors Committee reviews Situation of Youth and Sports Sectors in the light of COVID-19 and the Measures Adopted by Ministry in Charge
The Social Sectors Committee at the House of Representatives held a meeting on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020. The meeting was chaired by the Committee's Chairperson Saida Aït Bouali, with Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports Othmane El Ferdaous. The meeting was devoted to discussing the situation of the sectors of youth and sports in the light of COVID-19, and the precautionary measures taken by the Ministry concerning the sectors of Youth and Sport during the said period, its work plan for the post-lockdown period, and the lockdown's impact on team sports, clubs, and sports events. The meeting also discussed the fate of holiday camps in the summer of 2020.
Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports Othmane El Ferdaous recalled the various preventive measures that were taken to limit the propagation of COVID-19. The measures included shutting down youth and women centers and suspending their activities, suspending the cultural, sporting, and educational, and teaching activities in all the establishments attached to the Ministry. The measures also included holding e-conferences that covered topics of interest to youth and civil society actors, launching operation "Salama" that was directed at the residents of child protection centers and women’s clubs in rural and semi-urban areas, as well as special measures in the Royal Institute for Managerial Training in Youth and Sports (IRFC/JS).
In the same meeting, the Minister declared the resumption of the Moroccan Professional Football league at the end of July, while training will be resumed this week. In this respect, he noted that this decision was taken after consultation with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and the Ministries of Interior and Health. It has also been agreed on a sanitary protocol to provide the required health conditions in full respect of the measures and procedures established by the authorities. The Minister also added that "suspending sports events impacted sports activities, especially the collective ones. However, it was more of an imperative than a choice to prevent the virus propagation and protect the health and safety of citizens and society."
On another note, Mr. El Ferdaous tackled the various work procedures and preparations made by the Ministry for the post-lockdown period regarding women’s clubs and vocational training centers, through developing an action plan for the early preparation for the next season, drafting a practical guide for the educational management of kindergartens. The measures also cover developing an action plan for the youth sector and the reception and camping centers, adopting digitization in managing activities via standardized and official platforms, and establishing preventive and sanitary measures.
Regarding the camping season, the Minister confirmed that the opening of camping centers for collective open-air activities is complex and cannot be achieved. In the same respect, Mr. El Ferdaous revealed that "camping centers are expected to reopen next September to host the activities of some associations operating in training, workshops, and forums, to support them by putting the Ministry's centers at their disposal to organize their activities. This will be bound to the development of the epidemiological situation, and in consultation with the competent authorities."
Besides, the Minister added that his department has prepared a guidebook of the measures that should be implemented by the managers of these centers and their beneficiaries. In this respect, he highlighted that the guidebook includes different practical measures to limit the propagation of COVID-19, such as thorough cleaning and sterilization of camping centers, sensitizing their residents, and developing mechanisms for such purpose. Also, wearing face masks and physical distancing are mandatory.
On their part, the deputies representing the parliamentary groups seized this opportunity to call for accelerating the measures to support individual sports associations and commended the decision of awarding grants to national sports federations. They also suggested utilizing the study prepared by the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE) on the national sporting policy by upgrading the national strategy for sports into a public policy incorporated into the framework law and supporting school and college sports.
The representatives of the nation stressed the importance of updating Law 30.09 and fighting performance-enhancing drugs and migration of talented athletes. They also called for supporting and financing sports federations in their fight against the repercussions of COVID-19 considering their vulnerability and urged to address the current situation of the Royal Institute for Managerial Training in Youth and Sports. Besides, the participants insisted on promoting communication and digitization in the ministerial sectors, calling for consolidating good governance and transparency in the various institutions attached to the Ministry.
Concerning kindergartens and preschools, the deputies affirmed the importance of focusing and supporting these groups, who were affected by COVID-19, and to provide psychological support for children and youth who have endured the repercussions of this pandemic and its potential psychological effects. This entails the preparation of entertaining and educational programs to alleviate the lockdown impacts, and the mobilization of educational civil society organizations operating in camping to engage actively in suggesting alternatives for socio-educational activities in summer, in alignment with the requirements of the current sanitary and epidemiological situation in our country.