'We must help them': Morocco students get peers back in school
TIFLET, Morocco: Moroccan student Said Rifai, 15, is on a mission to help his peers pursue education in a country where an estimated 270,000 children drop out of school each year.
'We must help them come back,' said Rifai, who goes to middle school in Tiflet, a town east of the capital Rabat, and has already helped several of his friends back to school as part of a national youth-led effort.
To tackle the problem, which educators and officials warn exacerbates social inequalities and drives poverty, Moroccan authorities offer dropouts a chance back in with support from fellow students.
One of Rifai's classmates, Doha El Ghazouli, who is also 15, said that together they had helped several friends return to school 'before they abandoned their future.'
Huda Enebcha, 16, told AFP how she and her friend Ghazouli managed to convince a neighbor to resume her studies.
'We helped her review the most difficult subjects, and we showed her videos of some school activities,' said Enebcha.
'She finally agreed after a lot of effort.'
To ease the transition back into the education system, the 'second chance school' scheme offers some teenagers vocational training alongside remedial classes, with an emphasis on giving former dropouts agency and choice.
Hssain Oujour, who leads the national program, said 70 percent of the teenagers enrolled in it have taken up vocational training that could help them enter the labor force, with another 20 percent returning to the traditional school system.
Across Morocco, a country of 37 million people, classrooms are often overcrowded, and the public education system is generally viewed as inferior to private institutions, which charge fees that can be prohibitive for many families.
Around 250 million children worldwide lack basic literacy skills, and in Morocco, nearly one in four inhabitants — around nine million people — are illiterate, according to the UN children's agency UNICEF.
Dropout rates tend to be higher in rural and impoverished areas, said Said Tamouh, the principal of the Jawhara School in Tiflet that the students interviewed by AFP attend.
An NGO-run 'second chance school' nearby has some 110 students, who can sign up for art classes, hairdressing training or classical Arabic language courses.
Sanae Sami, 17, who took up a make-up class, said she was 'truly' given another shot at pursuing education.
'When you leave school, there's nothing for you,' she said.
'That's why I decided to come back, especially thanks to the teachers at this center.'
Hafida El Fakir, who heads the Salam association which runs the school, said that 'support and guidance' were key in helping students 'succeed and go far.'
Amine Othmane, a student who had re-entered the system last year with encouragement from his friends, is now helping others.
To convince dropouts, he said, 'they first have to regret leaving and want to return.'
Back in school, 18-year-old Aya Benzaki now hopes to achieve her dream of graduating with a diploma, and Jihane Errafii, 17, said she was grateful for the friends who had supported her journey.
'I just needed someone to lend me a hand.'
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Arab News
6 hours ago
- Arab News
'We must help them': Morocco students get peers back in school
TIFLET, Morocco: Moroccan student Said Rifai, 15, is on a mission to help his peers pursue education in a country where an estimated 270,000 children drop out of school each year. 'We must help them come back,' said Rifai, who goes to middle school in Tiflet, a town east of the capital Rabat, and has already helped several of his friends back to school as part of a national youth-led effort. To tackle the problem, which educators and officials warn exacerbates social inequalities and drives poverty, Moroccan authorities offer dropouts a chance back in with support from fellow students. One of Rifai's classmates, Doha El Ghazouli, who is also 15, said that together they had helped several friends return to school 'before they abandoned their future.' Huda Enebcha, 16, told AFP how she and her friend Ghazouli managed to convince a neighbor to resume her studies. 'We helped her review the most difficult subjects, and we showed her videos of some school activities,' said Enebcha. 'She finally agreed after a lot of effort.' To ease the transition back into the education system, the 'second chance school' scheme offers some teenagers vocational training alongside remedial classes, with an emphasis on giving former dropouts agency and choice. Hssain Oujour, who leads the national program, said 70 percent of the teenagers enrolled in it have taken up vocational training that could help them enter the labor force, with another 20 percent returning to the traditional school system. Across Morocco, a country of 37 million people, classrooms are often overcrowded, and the public education system is generally viewed as inferior to private institutions, which charge fees that can be prohibitive for many families. Around 250 million children worldwide lack basic literacy skills, and in Morocco, nearly one in four inhabitants — around nine million people — are illiterate, according to the UN children's agency UNICEF. Dropout rates tend to be higher in rural and impoverished areas, said Said Tamouh, the principal of the Jawhara School in Tiflet that the students interviewed by AFP attend. An NGO-run 'second chance school' nearby has some 110 students, who can sign up for art classes, hairdressing training or classical Arabic language courses. Sanae Sami, 17, who took up a make-up class, said she was 'truly' given another shot at pursuing education. 'When you leave school, there's nothing for you,' she said. 'That's why I decided to come back, especially thanks to the teachers at this center.' Hafida El Fakir, who heads the Salam association which runs the school, said that 'support and guidance' were key in helping students 'succeed and go far.' Amine Othmane, a student who had re-entered the system last year with encouragement from his friends, is now helping others. To convince dropouts, he said, 'they first have to regret leaving and want to return.' Back in school, 18-year-old Aya Benzaki now hopes to achieve her dream of graduating with a diploma, and Jihane Errafii, 17, said she was grateful for the friends who had supported her journey. 'I just needed someone to lend me a hand.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
07-06-2025
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Millions Sit China's High-Stakes University Entrance Exam
Hopeful parents accompanied their teenage children to the gates of a busy Beijing test center on Saturday, among millions of high school students across China sitting their first day of the highly competitive university entrance exam. Nationwide, 13.35 million students have registered for the multi-subject "gaokao" series this year, according to the Ministry of Education, down from last year's record-high 13.42 million test takers. Outside the central Beijing secondary school, a proud parent who gave her name as Chen said "12 years of hard work have finally led to this moment" -- as she waved a fan in front of her daughter while the student reviewed her notes one last time before the test. "We know our kids have endured so much hardship," Chen told AFP, adding that she was not nervous. "I'm actually quite excited. I think my child is excellent, and I'm sure she will get the best score," she said. China's gaokao requires students to use all their knowledge acquired to this point, testing them on subjects including Chinese, English, mathematics, science and humanities. The exam results are critical for gaining admission to university and determining whether they will attend a prestigious or more modest institution. While teachers and staff offered students their support, holding up signs of encouragement, some test takers, dressed in school uniforms, appeared panicked, including a girl with tears in her eyes. "There's no need for us parents to add pressure. The children are already under a lot of it," said a woman named Wang, whose son had just entered the exam hall. Like many mothers, she wore a traditional Chinese qipao in hopes of bringing good luck. "I hope my son achieves immediate success and gets his name on the (list of high-scoring candidates)," Wang said with a smile. Higher education has expanded rapidly in China in recent decades as an economic boom pushed up living standards -- as well as parents' expectations for their children's careers. But the job market for young graduates remains daunting. As of April, 15.8 percent of people aged 16 to 24 living in urban areas were unemployed, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Due to this pressure, many Chinese students prepare for the gaokao from a young age, often with extra lessons after the regular school day. - 'Safe gaokao' - And every year education authorities are on guard against cheating and disruptions during the exam. This week, China's Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang called for a "safe gaokao", stressing the importance of a rigorous campaign against cheating. Areas around exam centers are closely guarded by police, with road lanes closed to traffic and several cities banning motorists from honking their horns so as not to disrupt the concentration of students. In some schools, facial recognition is even used to prevent fraud. While the university admission rate for gaokao test takers has exceeded 80-90 percent in recent years, many students disappointed with their results choose to repeat the exam. As there is no age limit for the test, some have become notorious for attempting the exam dozens of times, either after failing it or not getting into their top-choice university. One teacher at the Beijing school where parents saw off their children on Saturday estimated that only about 10 of the approximately 600 final-year students there would earn a place at one of the capital's top universities. Jiang, a final-year high school student who only gave one name, said he dreamed of attending a Beijing university, and was remaining calm shortly before his Chinese exam. "Even though the pressure is intense, it's actually quite fair," he told AFP. "I feel like all the preparations that needed to be made have been made, so there's really no point in being nervous now, right? "Whatever happens, happens. It's truly not something I can completely control."
Arab News
07-06-2025
- Arab News
Millions sit China's high-stakes university entrance exam
BEIJING: Hopeful parents accompanied their teenage children to the gates of a busy Beijing test center on Saturday, among millions of high school students across China sitting their first day of the highly competitive university entrance 13.35 million students have registered for the multi-subject 'gaokao' series this year, according to the Ministry of Education, down from last year's record-high 13.42 million test the central Beijing secondary school, a proud parent who gave her name as Chen said '12 years of hard work have finally led to this moment' – as she waved a fan in front of her daughter while the student reviewed her notes one last time before the test.'We know our kids have endured so much hardship,' Chen said, adding that she was not nervous.'I'm actually quite excited. I think my child is excellent, and I'm sure she will get the best score,' she gaokao requires students to use all their knowledge acquired to this point, testing them on subjects including Chinese, English, mathematics, science and exam results are critical for gaining admission to university – and determining whether they will attend a prestigious or more modest teachers and staff offered students their support, holding up signs of encouragement, some test takers, dressed in school uniforms, appeared panicked, including a girl with tears in her eyes.'There's no need for us parents to add pressure. The children are already under a lot of it,' said a woman named Wang, whose son had just entered the exam many mothers, she wore a traditional Chinese qipao in hopes of bringing good luck.'I hope my son achieves immediate success and gets his name on the (list of high-scoring candidates),' Wang said with a education has expanded rapidly in China in recent decades as an economic boom pushed up living standards – as well as parents' expectations for their children's the job market for young graduates remains of April, 15.8 percent of people aged 16 to 24 living in urban areas were unemployed, according to the National Bureau of to this pressure, many Chinese students prepare for the gaokao from a young age, often with extra lessons after the regular school every year education authorities are on guard against cheating and disruptions during the week, China's Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang called for a 'safe gaokao,' stressing the importance of a rigorous campaign against around exam centers are closely guarded by police, with road lanes closed to traffic and several cities banning motorists from honking their horns so as not to disrupt the concentration of some schools, facial recognition is even used to prevent the university admission rate for gaokao test takers has exceeded 80-90 percent in recent years, many students disappointed with their results choose to repeat the there is no age limit for the test, some have become notorious for attempting the exam dozens of times, either after failing it or not getting into their top-choice teacher at the Beijing school where parents saw off their children on Saturday estimated that only about 10 of the approximately 600 final-year students there would earn a place at one of the capital's top a final-year high school student who only gave one name, said he dreamt of attending a Beijing university, and was remaining calm shortly before his Chinese exam.'Even though the pressure is intense, it's actually quite fair,' he said.'I feel like all the preparations that needed to be made have been made, so there's really no point in being nervous now, right?'Whatever happens, happens. It's truly not something I can completely control.'
