Morocco to improve education for disabled children
2007-03-15
In Morocco, most children with disabilities do not have access to basic education programmes. To combat the problem, the government has crafted a five-year plan to provide primary education to this vulnerable sector of Moroccan society.
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat -- 15/03/07
 [Sarah Touahri] The Ministry of Education currently runs 185 classes for disabled children in public schools at 48 sites, serving a total of 2,093 pupils. |
A recent survey of people with disabilities in Morocco has prompted the government to take action against problems in public education.
Jamal Khellaf, director of School Affairs, Co-ordination and Interdisciplinary Studies at the Ministry of Education, told Magharebia that increasing demand is putting unnecessary strain on educational services for disabled children. Only 74,730 disabled children -- 30% of the estimated total -- between the ages of 4 and 15 are enrolled in schools.
The Ministry of Education currently runs 185 classes for disabled children in public schools at 48 sites, serving a total of 2,093 pupils. According to the Secretariat of State for the Disabled, there is a shortage of seats in these classes and the programmes that do exist are concentrated in major cities.
As a result, the government has drafted an action plan for 2007-2012 to improve education for disabled children in the first three grades. The new programme will tackle social stigma and exclusion faced by children with disabilities, and will give them greater contact with society.
Khellaf said the priority areas are school design, teacher numbers, communication and assessment methods, and family support. He explained that the skills of disabled children must be enhanced, to empower or rehabilitate them, and to aid them in becoming active citizens in the future.
To assess the current school situation, the Ministry of Education plans to make a list of existing classes and identify requirements for facilities and access, and list existing equipment, teaching materials and human resources. It will then train teachers in alternative approaches to education.
Khellaf also said that the state is planning to create 247 classes for disabled children within ordinary schools, including 176 for mentally handicapped children and 71 for hearing-impaired children. Each of these classes will be aimed at a specific geographical area and socioeconomic and cultural group. It is expected that demand will be particularly great in areas where regional, social and economic inequalities are most distinct.
Prior to the launch of the classes, campaigns will be conducted to raise the awareness of all parties concerned.
The action plan was drawn up on the basis of data collected through the national disability survey carried out by the Secretariat of State for the Family, Childhood and the Disabled. The study showed that the disability rate in Morocco is 5.1%, or 1,530,000 people, while in the under-15 age group it is 2.5%, or 230,000 children.
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mohamed Posted 2007-03-16
There is an organization in the US working toward helping disabled children in MOrocco get some education as well: the MOrocco Foundation. Please try to cover their progress as this is very noble philantropy given the volunteering aspect of the Foundation. Thank you.
وداد Posted 2007-03-24
The disabled children have to be integrated in the education sector so that they can feel integrated in society and stop feeling they're less than others.
وداد Posted 2007-03-25
Salam charitable people, I want to say that helping the disabled children is rewarded by God before you're rewarded in this life.
Taoufik Posted 2007-04-03
I am a graduate student in NY. I currently working on a MS i science of education. I am willing to go back to Morocco and see if I could help. My program covers ESL, Special Education, Applied Linguistics, and Educational Psychology. I wonder if any one could help me with some information in this respect. Thank you Special Thanks to the crew Of Maghribia.com
youssef00712 Posted 2007-07-14
I am a physically handicapped child.
hayat Posted 2007-09-21
This organization has done a lot to help handicapped children.
Hamid CHATER Posted 2007-10-15
If it is possible, I would like a list of all the schools in Rabat for deaf children. –Thank you
senhaji Posted 2007-10-15
I love the handicapped so much. I love you. -KISSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
noreddine Posted 2007-11-29
I am a teacher specialised in working with mentally disabled children in the city of Inezgane. What we are lacking here in Morocco is education on the subject: we certainly have a lot to give to these children.
ms ina kaoui Posted 2008-03-11
i need names of school for my daughter who is celebral palsy and she is 9 years old. currently she is studying in Malaysia. Father is from morocco and i am a malaysian. will she be able to enroll in a school there cos we will be going back to morocco end of this year for good. we will be staying somewhere in casablanca.
نادية Posted 2008-03-14
Handicapped children should be treated as part of society who need to be involved in the social development policy which is adopted by Morocco. Therefore, we should show interest first to the training of specialized teachers in different forms of handicaps whether hearing impairment, visual, mental or motional. On the other hand, the programmes offered to these kids should be reconsidered in a way that respects the specificity of every type of handicap.
baghdad ahouary Posted 2008-04-05
I am handicapped, and father of a disabled child with Down Syndrome and also the president of an organisation for disabled people by the name of “Association Amal” in Beni Ensar, Nador, Morocco. We need help in order to build a social centre for this people. Here in Beni Ensar, Nador we are in need of a lot of these centres. Our organisation is working without a headquarters... Thank you
maha Posted 2008-06-17
May God reward you with good.
karoune Posted 2008-07-18
I am looking for help. I am disabled. (I only have one leg.)
iman Posted 2008-10-24
I am a speech therapist. I would really like to help disabled children. I am at your service.
Elmoqaddem Nora Posted 2008-10-27
I have a 13-year-old child with Down Syndrome. Being that we live in a city of limited facilities, he no longer goes to the Essaouira School. I would like to have classes taught for such children. If anyone can help, I would be greatly appreciative.
ghita Posted 2008-11-17
It is indeed regrettable to see that only 30% of Moroccan children with special needs benefit from state aid. What is more, the most important question is: do we have competent teachers in this field? On the other hand, what is the definition given in this article of children with special needs? Does that include all the children who have special needs, as is defined by Europe and United States? Note well, that I have repeated multiple times “children with special needs” because it is in this way that we must call them so that we can help them. In Arabic, that translates to “al dawi al atfal ihtiyajat al khass”. In order to help them, we must first change how they are called. It is the way that we call them and our lack of regard for them that I am sure could, if changed, help them. It is our duty to help them.
brahim Posted 2008-11-20
Hello- All me to write you this message. This is concerning a 13-year-old deaf student who is still not enrolled at the school specialised in this in Ouarzazate, a school which is under the direction of Houcine, who decides whether a student may be enrolled or not. This student would like to re-enrol in the school after having already completed her first year there, but the current worry is that he will no longer have the means to make good on his tuition, given he comes from a low-income family. In effect, his father is divorces and is the only one taking care of his son’s tuition. Allow me to write you this message to find out if your organisation might be able to help this person, given his great interest in getting an education. I am completely at your disposal for any other information that might help in a favourable follow-up to this request. Can you be reached by telephone, so that I may more clearly explain the problem? I am impatiently awaiting a response to my request. –Thank you
Hind Posted 2008-12-03
I live in Boston, i need to go back home Morocco but i am having Down syndrom kid. There is any schools for him or any thing to do with mental delay. Thank you
dafaoui mohamed Posted 2009-01-25
I have a ten-year-old child. She has difficulty with pronunciation. I am looking for a school specialised in her condition. Thank you for your help.
marwa Posted 2009-01-30
I am a student in physical education for the disabled in Tunisia. I am looking for information about mentally disabled people. -Thank you
ابو سعد Posted 2009-02-18
My son suffers from Down syndrome. I live in Saudi Arabia. I am from Morocco and want to get in touch with families who have Down syndrome.
Eng.Hasan Al-Bahkali Posted 2009-02-22
Disabled people, the dear category. Many countries have begun to take care and show concern for them. They have even achieved good results even better than healthy people. We wish them wellness and success. God the Almighty compensated them with strength and intelligence. God does not associate two hardships. Arabs states have also begun care and concern for disabled people to catch up with developed countries and human rights. They have rights in society. Engineer Hasan Al Bahkali.
جرادات Posted 2009-03-15
I am happy to have found this site. I hope that you will help me. I want to know a detailed protocol to deal with mentally-disabled children through playing.
souini Posted 2009-04-27
I would like to ask to participate in the conference on disabled people.
nathalie Posted 2009-05-31
Hello- I am working on the development of a home for disabled people at an equestrian centre in Morocco. The development of this hypo-therapy project falls under unpaid internship. I thus have no financial means and the work appears to be difficult. I need to contact schools and organisations specialised in this in order to understand their expectations and needs. Is it possible for me to get a listing of them??? Thank you for your support.
mohamed Posted 2009-06-27
I have a step-daughter with Down's Syndrome. I would like to know if there are schools specialised for children with Down's Syndrome.
Nora Posted 2009-07-26
I hope to definitively move to Casablanca, Morocco. I have an 11-year-old daughter who is mentally retarded. I do not know Casablanca very well. I am looking to sign her up at a school for the mentally disabled. I need help. I am hoping for a response from someone who has gone through the same situation as me or has any pertinent information. -Thank you
baji jamila Posted 2009-08-27
Your sister Baji Jamila. I am a teacher of the primary in Casablanca, Morocco. Subject : I have previously carried out a training about child handicap in the university of Sidi Othmane, Ben M’sik. I ask you my sisters and brothers to provide me information about this topic. Thank you very much.
mahassine Posted 2009-09-01
I am happy to have found this website. I hope that you will help me. I have a child. He is two and a half years old. He is disabled. He has hydrocephalus. I would like you to give me some information or help me. How can I make it so that, God willing, it works out for my son in the future. Anyone who wants to do some good in their life, do it for my son. Honestly, I suffer so much for my son, who sits around all day. I cannot do the impossible. -Thank you
FATIMA Posted 2009-09-03
Hello- This message is address to Miss Baji Jamila. I just arrived in Italy and I have a young daughter with microcephalus. I do not know whom to address about her education. Can you steer me in the right direction, please. I hope to hear back from you. -Thank you
zohra Posted 2009-10-01
Hi everyone- I am a teacher of the mentally disabled. I would like to know more about teaching methods for these children. Please, help me. –Thank you
wendy Posted 8 days ago
please i need your help" i am friendly with a family in beni mellie not far from casablanca 3 hours. i want to know if someone could provide me with information of a school for handicapped children. my wee friend mehammed took meningitis at 11 months he is now four years he takes spasams in his arms and legs i need somewhere that his mum can go with him and learn physio as his limbs have muscle waste. i would be most grateful for this information yours in waiting wendy johnston thank you
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