By Rachid Khouya
By Rachid Khouya
Morocco World News
Es Semara, Morocco, January 25, 2012
The process of violence against teachers in Es Semara continues on the second day of the first term exams in middle schools, one week following the criminal attack against a teacher working in the administration.
The victim was surprised by a student who attacked him with a sharp Knife in the stomach and caused him a deep stab wound and a severe injury.
Yesterday, teachers working in the 11 January secondary school were targets of stones thrown by students as they left school at midday after proctoring exams. Students were angry because they were not allowed to cheat on their tests.
A similar incident occurred for teachers of Al Massira secondary school where a teacher was shot in the head and was seriously injured.
As a first reaction, teachers of Al Massira secondary school didn’t work Tuesday afternoon, which delayed the administering of the exam in order to show their solidarity with their colleague.
Many teachers are waiting for more robust measures to be taken to protect them from the violence of their students.
A teacher expressed his disappointment and infuriation with a deep feeling of sorrow: “Help them to broaden their knowledge and sharpen their minds, and they break your head”.
Another teacher said mockingly and sarcastically that “While we were waiting for the rain, we were surprised by the rain of stones. Teachers should keep their heads at home and come to school headless if they want to be safe.”
“Gone are the days when teachers were respected and their work was appreciated; today everyone is mocking, humiliating and insulting teachers,” he added.
Consequently, teachers’ unions condemned the continuous process of attacks targeting them both inside and outside of schools.
After their meetings, teachers and their unions issued a statement in which they considered the local authorities and the Ministry of Education responsible for the absence of security inside and outside schools, which, according to the statement, “are doing nothing to protect men and women of education in this city.”
The unions have also called on all teachers to stop work on Wednesday afternoon at 2 PM and join a demonstration that is expected to take place in front of the governor’s headquarters to condemn this violence against teachers and to ask all those who are concerned to take the necessary measures to protect them.