Marrakech – In a collaborative effort between the Ministry of National Education, Pre-School Education, and Sports and the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, a series of training courses for psychosocial support professionals is set to take place from September 14 to 16, 2023.
These courses aim to provide vital assistance to students in the regions affected by the devastating Haouz earthquake. The objective is to help them cope with the lingering trauma and psychological impact left by the catastrophe, Morocco state media reported.
Mubarak Muzain, the head of the Department for the Development of Social and Cultural Activities at the Ministry of National Education, Elementary Education, and Sports, underscored the significance of this initiative. He stressed that these training programs are integral to the ministry’s ongoing efforts to create conducive conditions for the gradual resumption of studies in the earthquake-affected areas.
Furthermore, they are designed to provide much-needed support to both students and their families as they grapple with the aftermath of the earthquake.
Read also: Earthquake Special Fund: Bank Al Maghrib Donates MAD 1 Billion
These courses, held in Marrakech and Agadir, will offer comprehensive instruction for all participants to equip them for effective field intervention. The training will be facilitated by international experts in the field, and participants will work with manuals and instructional materials tailored to their needs.
Two primary guides are integral to the training program. The first is a psychological, educational, and social support manual, with a focus on helping children understand the nature of disasters, how they occur, and strategies to overcome the associated trauma. It also seeks to help children develop the capacity to express their feelings and sensations and gradually return to a semblance of normalcy in their lives.
The second guide centers on emergency education for safeguarding schools and preventing risks within the educational environment. This guide aims to disseminate plans for protecting educational institutions from potential hazards and to empower administrative and educational staff to develop immediate action plans for managing educational facilities in emergency situations.
Read also: King Mohammed VI Declares Orphans of the Al Haouz Earthquake ‘Nation’s Ward’
Participants in these training sessions expressed their optimism about the positive impact these courses will have. They anticipate that the refreshed and communicative approaches to psychological support will enable them to assist earthquake-affected students and their families in resuming their studies and regaining a sense of normalcy in school life.
Moreover, they see these training courses as a valuable opportunity to raise awareness about natural disasters and their consequences, while also providing crucial tools and strategies to address and overcome them.
