Hassan El Otmani Is a
private high school teacher of English in Agadir. He earned a bachelor in English studies from Ibno Zohr University
in Agadir. He conducted a research project on "English language teaching
approaches and methods, the Moroccan high school (case of study)". His
writings take the form of short stories, poems and articles about different
subjects. He is interested in education, human rights and citizenship.
I
have recently had the opportunity to reflect on the controversial issue of the
Moroccan educational system, and its successive failure that has negatively
influenced the social lives of people in Morocco. This process of reflection
was prompted by my strong concern about the field of education and every
changes and trends that has happened since the beginning of the 21 century.
On
a more personal level, I have lately made a transition from part time to full
time academic life to enable me to theorize, speculate and reflect deeply
on this field of interest. It is some 2 years since I completed my B.A in
English language studies, and went to work in different parts of the country as
a freelance teacher. I have participated in many different conferences, debates,
as well as teaching training programs since then.
Looking
back over the last 2 years, at the influences that have shaped my own thinking
and professional experience and reflecting on the current “setbacks” of our
educational system prompted me to ask one basic question: Isn’t it time for
that a long waited change in Moroccan education? To explore this question I
made use of the information obtained from the activities mentioned above and
throughout what I have read, heard, and witnessed as well as my experience in
this field.
Apart
from the point I made above, I wish to say that one of the impediments to
social change in education in Morocco is there is more talking than doing. I
cannot stress enough the vital role of good education in the development and
the advancement of nations and civilizations in the world. Therefore, I
strongly believe that education is very important in our lives. Education
ameliorates people’s lives, enhances their self-esteem, their ability to learn
new things which will help them expand their knowledge, and their ability to
cope with the majority of the society. It makes them self-confident and
informed populace that can understand issues, represent themselves, and take
responsibility. Besides, Education is the basic element and foundation stone in
any country’s development.
The
aim of this article, therefore, is to show that parents, teachers as well as
students graduated from the Moroccan public and private schools and the civil
society in general are not very pleased with their educational system. Thus, it
can be taken for granted that without teachers, parents and students’
satisfaction no reform can be attained.
To
tackle the issue more precisely, it is urgently needed from all of us,
especially the so-called current ministry of education to quickly think about
urgent solutions to heal the wounds of education in this country.
On
the other hand, I strictly believe that an absence of a clear vision of how to
effectively reform our educational system is what impedes our ministry of
education in Morocco. As I see it, such a vision should be built on adopting
what has been achieved beforehand and use the current available means and
resources to positively save our educational system and affect future plans.
In
spite of successive reforms since independence, on the ground there has been no
tangible change so far. To illustrate this, looking back over the last 6 years,
exactly in 2009, the ministry of education launched a three-year-emergency plan
in order to put an end to the deplorable state of education system. However,
the plan proved to be a failure along with other launched plans over the last
years.
Accordingly,
the failure of our educational system is basically interconnected to many
variables that can either be linked to students, curriculum designers,
teachers, policy makers or parents. Hence, I personally believe that all
attentions should be concentrated on both teachers and students or even parents
as the main social factors who can play an important role in the progress of
education.
Eventually,
for the educational system to succeed in Morocco, a highly qualified and
sophisticated ministry of education is urgently needed. A ministry of education
that truly values, acknowledges, and recognizes the potentials and abilities of
its graduated students.
Last
but not least, I cannot oversee the fact that a successful social change in
education requires the engagement of civil society, teachers, students along
with parents in school matters, as a part of the solution to improving and
bringing about that long awaited social change in the Moroccan educational
system.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this article are only those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of MoroccoPens.
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