The Moroccan Association for Human Rights, specifically its branch in Marrakech, has called for an immediate investigation into the reasons behind the delays affecting four educational projects located in the communes of Saada, Douar Iziqi, and Sidi Zouine. The association has raised concerns about the implications of these delays on students’ rights to safe and quality education, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the issue.
In a formal letter addressed to the Minister of National Education, Preschool Education, and Sports, as well as the Director of the Regional Academy of Education and Training for the Marrakech-Safi region and the regional director of the ministry in Marrakech, the association urged the initiation of an administrative, technical, and financial investigation to identify the responsibilities associated with the stalled projects.
According to the correspondence, the delayed projects include the construction of two school complexes, namely “Al-Basha” and “Al-Basatin” in the commune of Saada, in addition to the “Toubkal” secondary school in Douar Iziqi, and the “Ibn Hanbal” secondary school in Sidi Zouine. The association noted that these projects have been at a standstill for an extended period, without any official explanations provided to the public regarding the causes or the expected timelines for resuming construction and completing the facilities, especially with the new school year approaching.
The letter highlighted that the stagnation of these projects has directly affected the learning conditions of students, who are compelled to continue their education in environments that do not meet safety and quality standards, thus failing to provide equitable opportunities for all students. For instance, the “Al-Basha” school complex has been cited as a prime example of this dire situation, where students are forced to study in a space originally designated for school meals, which has now been repurposed into a classroom, alongside a limited number of actual classrooms.
Furthermore, the educational process continues amidst construction debris and the remnants of demolition related to the halted projects, creating potentially hazardous conditions for both students and educational staff, ultimately impacting the quality of education being provided. Regarding the “Al-Basatin” school complex, the human rights organization pointed out that work remains stalled despite previous statements and correspondence concerning the project, with no clear signs indicating the imminent resumption of work or the completion of the institution.
The delays are not confined to primary education institutions, as the association expressed concern over the slow progress at the “Toubkal” secondary school in Douar Iziqi and its unpreparedness to welcome students, warning of the possibility that its opening could be postponed until the upcoming school year. The correspondence revealed that the “Toubkal” project had a budget allocation of approximately 220 million dirhams (equivalent to over $22 million), questioning the reasons behind the delays and the measures taken to address them given the substantial financial resources involved.
Moreover, the situation concerning the “Ibn Hanbal” secondary school in Sidi Zouine was also addressed, with the association stating that, according to their data, the project has not made significant progress, despite the increasing need to enhance educational offerings and accommodate the growing number of students in the area.
The human rights organization raised the possibility of mismanagement or financial discrepancies and called for an official investigation to verify these concerns, seeking clarity on the fate of the allocated budgets for the projects and the reasons for failing to meet the established deadlines for their completion, while stopping short of definitively asserting the existence of such discrepancies.
The continued halt of construction works, coupled with the absence of official communication, is seen as contradictory to the principles of transparency and accountability, as well as the stipulations of Article 31 of the Constitution, which pertains to the right to access modern, affordable, and quality education.
In accordance with Law No. 31.13 concerning the right to access information, the association has demanded access to documents and data related to the four projects, including the start dates of the works, financial allocations, contracts, completion percentages, and reasons for the delays.
Additionally, they called for the disclosure of the names of the companies and consulting offices responsible for these projects, the measures taken to address the delays, and the new timelines for resuming and completing the works.
In conclusion, the association reaffirmed its commitment to monitor the situation closely and to utilize all available legal and institutional mechanisms to advocate for the right to education, protect public funds, and ensure adherence to the principles of transparency and good governance.
As reported by al3omk.com.
