Seven teachers (four men and three women) died in Friday’s powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake, leaving another 39 injured, the Ministry of National Education stated today in a press release.
The quake caused damage of varying degrees to 530 educational institutions and 55 dormitories, ranging from complete collapse to severe cracks, in the provinces of Al Haouz, Chichaoua, and Taroudant.
The Ministry announced it is suspending all classes in the worst affected districts due to the extent of the damage. Specialized technical teams will need to conduct a comprehensive study and evaluation of the buildings and infrastructure to ensure the safety of students and teachers and to determine whether efforts to restore, rehabilitate, or rebuild will be needed.
The Ministry confirmed that in the areas where it is not possible to accommodate students due to the damage caused, appropriate educational solutions will be sought to ensure the continuity of students’ education. This may include utilizing neighboring educational institutions while ensuring continuous communication with parents and stakeholders.
In coordination with the local authorities, studies are being suspended in the worst affected rural communities and villages in Al Haouz, Chichaoua, and Taroudant. 42 communities live in these three regions, according to the latest data available today.
Classes will continue as usual in other educational institutions across the country.
Given the anticipated social and psychological trauma of the disaster, the Ministry stated that it is mobilizing social support structures to listen and provide counseling and psychological support to students.
Psychological support will also be provided to teachers to help them cope with the pressure and stress of the situation, as well as to education professionals and their families.
The Ministry also stated that technical teams of experts, including engineers and technicians specialized in construction, have been mobilized to prepare technical reports for each affected educational institution.
They will document the condition of the institutions, the damage sustained, and the necessary action such as reconstruction or rehabilitation. The Ministry is committed to expediting the return of students to these schools.
In the meantime, Surah Al-Fatiha will be recited today in remembrance of the earthquake victims after a flag salute and the playing of the Moroccan national anthem.