New Education Minister Seeks Phone Ban for Teachers and Students

Rabat – Newly appointed Moroccan Minister of Education Said Amzazi decided to announce a national ban on mobile phones in classrooms, for both students teachers.

Amzazi urged inspectors, directors of regional academies, training centers, schools, inspectors and teachers to “permanently ban students and school officials from using mobile phones in classrooms,” according to a ministerial note issued on January 25th.

This policy aims to “better the conditions of learning for students and ensure a favorable climate in which teachers can perform their duties,” reads the note.

However, Moroccan educators l may require more than a phone ban in classrooms to reach favorable conditions.

The National Union of Education and the Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT)  have called for a 24-hour national strike and have organized sit-ins in front of the provincial ministerial institutions on February 14th.

This decision was made to denounce the vile situation of the public education, the rise in school registration fees that systematically seek to eliminate free education, and a standstill of dialogue with the government.