Rabat – Morocco’s appointed Head of Government, Abdelilah Benkirane, was quoted by Maghreb Arab Press (MAP) Thursday, saying that “the reform of Islamic Educational textbooks was done at the behest of King Mohammed VI’s instructions.”
In a communiqué issued by MAP, Benkirane expounded on the latest curricula reform amid the current controversy over the disparagement of philosophy in one of the reformed textbooks.
“The Islamic Educational textbooks have been reformed by pedagogical experts and members of the Higher Scientific Council at the behest of King Mohammed VI’s instructions,” Benkirane was quoted by MAP as saying.
Benkirane went on to assert that “during the Council of Ministers, which King Mohammed VI chaired in February, 2016 in Laayoune, the King called on the Minister of National Educational and Vocational Training, Rachid Belmokhtar, and the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Taoufik, to review Moroccan textbooks to ensure they adhere the precepts of Islam and the Maliki Sunni rite, which advocates moderation, tolerance and coexistence with other religions and cultures.”
According to the communiqué, “The reform of the Moroccan curricula is carried out under the auspices of the Supreme Council for Education, Training and Scientific Research and in accordance with the participation of professors, teachers, students and their parents in order to improve the quality of Morocco’s educational system.”
“The reform included approximately 29 textbooks. However, the controversy has stirred only over one particular textbook, due to a passage addressing philosophy. This passage tries to demonstrate a possible extremist approach by the author, and it was not intended to offend philosophy,” the communiqué added.
The controversy began with objections about the content contained in a chapter titled Philosophy and Faith, from the textbook ‘Manar At-Tarbia Al-Islamiya.’ The textbook is used for instructing first year baccalaureate students.
