Fez - It’s certain that Morocco’s education is frustratingly in deep crisis ever since the country’s independence and all the reforms implemented thus far proved to be futile and useless.
The high hopes Moroccans placed on education were, unfortunately, never fulfilled because we, perhaps, loaded education with a burden it could not bear. Now we are faced by the bitter truth: mass disillusionment and despair at the whole education system not just by teachers, but also parents and students. Worst of all, those running education in Morocco keep escaping accountability and holding others (usually teachers) responsible for the crisis.
Leila (pseudonym) harboured the dream of becoming a teacher since she was a high school student. Teaching, she believed, is the noblest and most decent job for a woman. Not just that, teaching would give her the chance to inspire generations of impressionable students for positive change that she wished for her society and country. All teachers had these innocent fantasies caressing their thoughts at the beginning of their careers; changing the world to an ideal place where everyone is educated and everything is neat and well-organized and all actions are rational and mindful. But easier said than done.
After four months at school as a novice teacher, Leila couldn’t hold out with her students’ bullying and constant verbal abuse. The theoretical approaches and methods for class management she learned at her training center were worthless and inapplicable when she helplessly turned to them for help. What’s the use of squandering time and money in teaching something that is not meant for our schools? Her forty-five students precipitate her classroom into a mess right from the first minute. Some of her students reported that students’ misbehavior went that far to the extent that male students dare kiss her on the cheeks.
Leila, the miserable, finally decided to leave everything and everyone behind. She left school and never came back for four days so far. When her colleagues noticed her absence and called her, her phone kept ringing without any answer. Leila had a severe nervous breakdown for which she was hospitalized for three days. Now, she only wants to be away from the hellish atmosphere of her classroom and come what may.
Leila is only a case among many suffering souls under the dilapidated roofs of our schools. What added insult to injury and made matters worse is the recent ministerial note number 867714, dated 17th October 2014, which abolishes any disciplinary sanctions /punishments against students. This ominous note was like the green light from the ministry to more violence against teachers. In plain English, it is a blatant disgrace to encourage « tchermil » against teachers in schools instead of hard work, creativity, competition and diligence.
And always remember:
« Those who educate children well are more to be honored than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well » Aristotle.