Parents demand urgent government action as teacher strikes prolong

The National Federation of Student Parent and Guardians Associations called on the government and unions not to place children “hostage to negotiations or disagreements, and to guarantee the right to education for Moroccan children.”

The federation urged respect for the hierarchy of rights, which places those places f children above all, stressing that they must be protected by everyone.

The Federation announced its intention to “take civil advocacy measures starting with organizing regional and national marches in defense of students and their families in the near future,” calling on its regional branches to be prepared to participate in any action taken by the national federation in defense of the public school system.

Representatives of parents called for compensation for wasted school hours and a reconsideration of the ministerial layout for the 2023-2024 school year, in light of a strike that lasted for weeks and led to significant academic delays.

The federation stressed in a statement the necessity of thinking about educational support mechanisms that are appropriate for all Moroccan social groups, including the very vulnerable and students in rural areas.

In light of the Prime Minister and unions meeting next Monday, the National Federation notes that the government is required to “guarantee the human and constitutional rights of Moroccan children to be educated fairly, while enforcing equal opportunity access, and accelerating the solution of this problem before it is too late.”

The federation explained that “students’ rights have been violated, not to mention the intensification of the suffering of parents, especially families who live in difficult economic situations,” in light of the cessation of studies in public institutions.

The aforementioned body criticised the government’s delay in taking measures and procedures to ensure the students’ course resumption, calling on all parties concerned to “evoke a sense of patriotism and think about the oppressed who have no second option public school.”

The representative entity requested giving the due and necessary status to mothers and fathers and their representatives locally and nationally, to actively participate in the reform processes to track and guarantee the rights of their student children, who they argue, are the foundation and centre-focus of the educational system.