Al Haouz Quake: Sustained Efforts to Improve Educational Offer in Taroudant

09 September 2024 Printable Version

Ida Ougoummad Municipality - One year after the earthquake, the province of Taroudant is experiencing sustained momentum in the field of education, particularly thanks to the program for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of schools.

This program, which aims to improve the educational offer and ensure the continuity of the public educational service, is part of the initiatives intended to allow students to continue their studies in excellent conditions in accordance with the High Instructions of HM King Mohammed VI.

In a statement to MAP, the Director of the Regional Academy of Education and Training (AREF) of Souss-Massa, Ouafae Chaki, said that some 500 schools were damaged to varying degrees in the province of Taroudant following the Al Haouz earthquake.

The efforts made by the supervising ministry and other partners to improve the conditions for welcoming students have made it possible to definitively avoid the use of school tents as well as the completion of the rehabilitation works in 43 schools, now ready to welcome pupils for the 2024-2025 school year, Chaki underlined.

She added that 32 other schools have undergone rehabilitation and development works thanks to the support of several partners.

For his part, Omar Ait Omar, Director of the “Ida Ougoummad” high school, noted that thanks to the rehabilitation and renovation works it has undergone, this school is ready to welcome some 363 students in the best conditions.

According to Hassan Lirqui, President of the Student Parent Association, the combined efforts of all stakeholders have enabled a rapid resumption of classes at the high school, which had been damaged by the Al Haouz earthquake.

As part of the efforts made by all stakeholders to guarantee the right to education and training, the reconstruction and rehabilitation program for quake-affected schools, provides for building proximity schools, with the provision and optimization of school transport services.

Carried out in accordance with the specific heritage and architectural features of the affected areas, and in accordance with updated earthquake-resistant standards, this programme also aims to increase the number of municipal schools offering boarding services, school transport and accommodation for teachers.