Meknes – Parents of suspended students protested against the headmaster’s decision at the Al-salam high school in Meknes to refuse giving their children another chance to pursue their education after two consecutive years of failed attempts at Baccalaureate exam.
The protests started last Monday, October 19th, when the parents visited the high school to discuss their children’s suspension with the headmaster. As a result of the headmaster’s refusal to reconsider his decision, the parents have been leading protests at the front door of the high school.
According to the law and administrative regulations in Morocco students have the right to a third chance. The head master has justified his decision on the basis that third chances are only given to students who are 19 years old or less, who have received at least 8/20 the previous year, and who have never been through any disciplinary council. “None of these students meet the following criteria” said the head master.
The parents have also spoken with some officials working as proxies to the Ministry of Education in Meknes, who confirmed the right of their children to have a third chance or a certificate of departure which would allow them to join another high school. The head master has refused the latter option as well.
The families of the students intend to keep fighting for their children’s right to study and are contacting other officials in the Ministry of Education so as to take legal actions against the head master of the institution.
