فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
During the public session for oral questions in the House of Representatives on Monday, a heated debate took place over the rising phenomenon of violence in schools, with this issue being the main concern for four parliamentary groups, who directed direct criticisms and questions to the Minister of National Education, Preschool, and Sports, Mr. Chakib Benmoussa.
The parliamentary group of the Authenticity and Modernity Party questioned the measures in place to curb violence and deviant behavior within educational institutions and their surroundings. Meanwhile, the Istiqlal Party’s group inquired about the efforts made to eradicate this phenomenon, and the Constitutional Democratic Social Group also raised concerns about what it described as “the spread of violence in schools.” The movement’s parliamentary group titled its question “The Phenomenon of Violence in Educational Institutions,” expressing overwhelming concern over the rise in such behaviors among students.
In his response, Minister Benmoussa expressed his regret over the “painful incidents” that have recently occurred in the education sector, including the death of a vocational education teacher. He acknowledged that incidents of violence in schools have seen an alarming rise, which necessitated the implementation of a series of field measures.
The minister highlighted that the issues of violence and school dropout rates are closely intertwined, emphasizing that when students fail to keep up with lessons, they often feel marginalized, which can drive them toward violent behaviors. He stressed the importance of improving schooling conditions and activating extracurricular activities such as art, sports, and music, pointing to the success of the “Pioneering Institutions” program in reducing violence rates through these activities.
Furthermore, the minister revealed that the ministry has set up special units to track students at risk of dropping out, with their numbers estimated to be between 15% and 20%. He confirmed that most of these students suffer from severe psychological pressure, and the ministry is addressing this issue through individualized and detailed monitoring.
In what appears to be an emergency plan, Benmoussa explained that a number of schools have been equipped with surveillance cameras, some of which are powered by artificial intelligence, to facilitate swift intervention in case of violent incidents. He also expressed gratitude for the security cooperation provided by the National Police and the Royal Gendarmerie to ensure the safety of school environments.
Regarding training, the minister mentioned that more than 4,000 educational staff have undergone training in listening and mediation skills. Additionally, 1,600 school life coordinators have been trained in partnership with the Mohammed VI League of Scholars, as part of efforts to contain the phenomenon and reduce its impact within school spaces.
Source: Fes News Media
