GED under the sign of complete digitalization
On the eve of the junior high school resit session, the Minister of National Education addressed parliamentarians on the achievements of the first session. This edition was marked by the introduction of complete digitalization of all stages of the exam, from invitations to exams, to the awarding of diplomas, including a confidential electronic grading system and the communication of results.
From the student who receives their invitation with a code that is read via a special phone to the results. « I attended the Junior High School Degree (GED) announcement, and I can confirm that in the space of fifteen minutes, 450,000 emails were sent, of which more than 380,000 were read by candidates in the same period. «Within half an hour, all students had their results, with the grades for each subject», said Mohamed Saâd Berrada. Thanks to digitalization, two days later, all students who had obtained their baccalaureate received their diplomas by email. This allowed them to download it and easily proceed with the registration procedures in universities, both in Morocco and abroad. This was done with ease, fluidity, and great efficiency.
Work on jamming phones
The minister also announced that diplomas will now be printed at the Mint (Dar As-Sikkah), using a secure process that makes forgery impossible.
In the meantime, the problem that concerns the minister is cheating in the Junio High School degree baccalaureate exam, particularly via cell phones. According to him, his ministry is working with the authorities to jam phones in schools starting next year. It should be noted that a similar initiative was attempted more than a decade ago. Indeed, former Minister of National Education Mohamed El Ouafa launched consultations that concluded this process was unfeasible since it risks disrupting other security networks. This option has been abandoned. Furthermore, in response to a question regarding improving working conditions for teachers in rural areas, the Minister revealed that his department is reviewing a decision made in December 2023. This involves granting an allowance of 5,000 dirhams (USD 500) per year to educational staff working in rural areas unserved by paved roads or with difficult access. His Ministry is working on its finalization, suggesting that this expected allowance will be implemented before the end of the year.
8,000 Students for «Sport – Studies»
Furthermore, regarding the strategy to promote school sports, at the middle and high school levels, physical education is taught for two hours per week. The number of teachers is sufficient. However, the Minister acknowledged that the problem exists at the primary level, where students must also participate in sports. As for the «Sport-Studies» program, 8,000 students study in the morning and practice sports in the afternoon, Berrada said.
M.C.
