Moroccan Parents Oppose School Reopening Amid COVID-19 Concerns

For the Federation, a return to school under these post-confinement conditions would impose many constraints, despite the improvement in indicators related to the Covid-19 epidemic. In this case, it deems it necessary to maintain distance learning for non-graduating classes until the end of the school year, "even if this system can in no way replace the physical presence of teachers and students". Thus, the return to class should only concern the graduating levels. It also suggests focusing the catch-up efforts only on the subjects that will be the subject of exams, in reduced classes that respect the health conditions and social distancing.

Regarding the exams, the Federation proposes that they cover the subjects and courses followed by the students in person, that is to say on the programs delivered before the confinement. According to her, the regional exams must be postponed to September. As for the non-graduating levels, the assessments must cover 75% of the program, that is to say the entire first and second quarters, and the first part of the third quarter.

Furthermore, FNAPEM recommends disinfecting the premises daily, and several times a day (including canteens and dormitories), and not exceeding 12 students per class. It also demands the daily and large-scale distribution of masks to all students and stakeholders.

The parents of students in the establishments of the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) are also concerned by this decision to return students to class, and oppose this resumption during the confinement. According to the presidency of the Association of Autonomous Parent Collectives (CAPE) of the Lycée Descartes in Rabat, with around 2,500 students, she does not see how classes can resume while respecting social distancing. "I doubt that the resumption, moreover for only one month, is feasible and judicious. Parents are not particularly in favor of a resumption of classes, especially since distance learning has so far worked relatively well," she specifies.