These works witnessed speeches made by: Ahmed Harzenni, Mhammed Iraqui, Jamal Aghmani, Ahmed Khchichen and Latifa Abda. Here follows a summary of the interventions that took place on the agenda of this session under the themes "Education in the southern regions" "good governance and addressing purported employment of human rights”.
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Mr. Khchichen: urgency projects in southern provinces likely to overcome all education
Minister of National Education, Higher Schooling Training and Scientific Research, Mr. Ahmed khchichen said that priority projects under the Emergency Programme of Education and Training will help finding all the solutions to the constraints of the education system in the Kingdom’s southern provinces.
In a presentation during the second regular session of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs which started today morning, the minister pointed out that speeding up the program implementation will respond to the aspirations of the development of the educational system and assist in the reduction of negative phenomena such as school abandonment and overcrowding.
To reduce overcrowding, he indicated that there will be created during the period 2009 – 2012, 9 primary schools, 1 school will be extended, 5 secondary schools will be built and others expanded, 7 high schools will be set up and one rehabilitated in addition to an internal section and 5 restaurants in Oued Eddahab Region .
To keep pace with urban development, says Mr. Khchichen - the ministry will respond to all needs in the field of reception and accommodation.
He highlighted that, in addition to the pilot program for the rehabilitation of 100 institutions in the three southern regions, the school year 2008 / 2009 will be marked with the rehabilitation and re-processing of half of the educational institutions that are still in need of rehabilitation. This will include, in particular, the provision of basic services such as water, electricity and sanitation facilities and renovation of all old equipment.
In this context, he added that all boarding schools will be rehabilitated and refurbished in the framework of the 2009budget, and the implementation of preventive maintenance in educational institutions from next year.
He also pointed out that there was a project to stimulate and develop the human resource capacity through the allocation of very important funds for continuous training and allocation of incentives for workers in remote areas, in addition to providing housing for educators.
Mr. Khchichen stopped at some of the positive indicators recorded at the level of the areas of the South, such as the increase of the number of school attendance compared to other regions in the Kingdom, noting, on the other hand, the high level of school performance at the level of some areas in the south such as - Boujdour – Saguia Al Hamra whose success rate at baccalaureate examinations reached 68 per cent, against 43 per cent nationally.
The minister concluded that the work is still ongoing with regard to other projects of horizontal nature including health system, and activating the system of hazard prevention within the educational institutions, in addition to an outline of training and continuous training.
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Mr. Aghmani: allocation of 121 million MAD for the creation of nine institutions for the development of vocational training in the Southern Territories.
The Minister of Employment and Vocational Training Mr. Jamal Aghmani, announced that the ministry scheduled nine institutions for the development of vocational training in the Kingdom’s southern region for the period between 2009 and 2012 with a budget of 121 million MAD.
Aghmani pointed out in his presentation that the ministry intends in the period between 2009 and 2010 the completion of the Institute specializing in Hotel business and Tourism in Guelmim, and one multidisciplinary institute of applied technology in Boujdour.
He added that between 2010 and 2011, a center for hotel businnes and fast food industry will be established with East – West institution in Guelmim, in addition to an Institute for agricultural training, social center in Laayoune, and Center for professional fishing training in Bojdour.
He added that the ministry which will build between 2009 and 2010 two internships in Tata and Guelmim, plans in the period between 2011 and 2012 to create a vocational training center for the local prison in Laayoune, as well as a specialized institute of applied technology in Tata, noting that the cost of the creation of institutes and centers, amounts to 121 million MAD.
Concerning the programs of vocational training until 2012, which aim to keep up with the traditional industry sector through a program of vocational training as most appropriate to achieve the objectives of Vision 2015 of the traditional manufacturing sector, would cost 21 million MAD.
Aghmani pointed out that there were new projects and programs in the process of study concerning the feasibility of an Institute of Hotel business and Tourism in Dakhla under Oued Eddahab project in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, as well as the study of strengthening training in the field of maritime fishing in Laayoune in cooperation with the Ministry in charge of fishing and professionals.
He added that the new projects and programs aim also to create a new Institute for Vocational Training in the new city of Laayoune (Wifaq), diversify vocational training, especially in promising professions (now 63 sections), and increase the number of students in some sections by the Office of Vocational Training and Employment Promotion.
According to Mr. Aghmani, the vocational training system in the southern Territories currently has 58, institutions including 31 private and 27 public, with 6 internships of 520 beds in Laayoune (2), Asa Zak, Guelmim, Tata and Tan Tan, noting that 12 of the public institutions belong to the Office of Vocational Training and Employment Promotion.
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Mr. Harzenni: Human Rights Watch report lacks scientific criteria and political courage
The Chairman of the Consultative Council for Human Rights Mr. Ahmed Harzenni condemned the recent report of the international non-governmental organization "Human Rights Watch," and its claims about human rights abuses in the Moroccan Sahara.
Harzenni said in a speech during the works the second regular session of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs that the "tendentious" report lacks scientific criteria, and its conclusions preceded research and field investigation, stressing that the goal is to try to undermine the reputation of Morocco through the employment of the issue of human rights "for political purposes."
He added that those behind the preparation of this report, "lack political courage" and, therefore, used the subject of human rights as cover to attack Morocco, highlighting that the report lacks the most basic scientific standards required for any neutral scientific research.
On the other hand, Mr. Harzenni, in his speech, outlined the outcome of the achievements of human rights in the southern provinces, where he indicated, in particular, good governance, the policy of proximity and the new concept of authority, which have been translated on the ground through the frequent visits by His Majesty the King Mohammed VI to the Territories in order to track the progress of economic and social projects in the region aiming at raising the standard of living of the Sahara population.
Mr. Harzenni also spoke about the activation of the recommendations of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission in the Territories, especially those relating to collective and individual compensation for victims of violations of human rights, and reintegration of the children of the victims in the context of the rehabilitation project.
In this regard, he evoked Moroccan experience in the field of reparations, which he said became a leading international experience compared to others such South Africa regarding the apartheid victims who have not been so far compensated for the damage caused to them.
Mr. Iraqi: Creation of Regional Delegation of Diwan Al Madhalim in the Southern Territories reflects a desire to clean up public utility
The Wali of Madhalim Mhammed Iraqi Confirmed that creating a Regional Office of the institution in the southern regions reflects the genuine will to advance the culture of public utility, and the cleaning up of the Administration.
In his speech, Mr. Iraqi said that the installation of this institution comes within the framework of the defence of human rights through the concept of sincere citizenship and dedication to work and creates some kind of reconciliation between the citizen and the administration.
He added that this institution clearly translates the policy of proximity undertaken by the Kingdom, pointing out that the institution has achieved very positive results since more than 80 per cent of the complaints submitted to the institution have been processed in these regions.
He stressed that Diwan Al Madhalim was expected to hold a meeting in Laayoune, in the coming weeks, in order to inform the Sahara inhabitants about the various actions taken by the institution in the Territories.
Source: MAP/Corcas
(News on Western Sahara issue / Corcas)