Reducing Digital Divide Between Rural and Urban Areas, One of Challenges of Online Education (Official)

Khémisset - Reducing the digital divide between rural and urban areas is one of the challenges to be addressed as far as online teaching is concerned, said on Tuesday in Khémisset Minister of National Education, vocational training, higher education and scientific research, government spokesman Saaid Amzazi.  Speaking at the board of directors of the Regional Academy of Education and Training (AREF) of Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Amzazi explained that among the challenges facing online education, on which the ministry is working with the support of its partners, is the reduction of the digital divide between the rural and urban zones and social categories, in order to guarantee equitable access to education.  In this regard, he welcomed the various solidarity initiatives undertaken by the partners of the education system, aimed at distributing electronic tablets for the benefit of children in rural areas in precarious situations, calling for these actions to be extended to include other needy children.  The minister also affirmed that his department works for the development of remote education and the expertise of professionals and actors in the field, in addition to the institutionalization of this mode of learning, through the publication of a regulatory text, under way, with a view to making remote education a complement to in-person education. 

According to Amzazi, "the Covid-19 pandemic has become a reality we have to live with. This is why the ministry has undertaken a series of measures allowing it to reconcile the management of circumstances related to the coronavirus and the strategic management aimed at accelerating the implementation of the reform of the education and training system".  He noted that the priorities of the ministry for the current school year are based on two main outlines linked to the management of the current school year in the light of the pandemic and its health and educational constraints, while giving new impetus to the implementation of strategic projects within the framework of the application of the provisions of framework law n° 51.17 relating to the system of education, teaching, training and scientific research, in order to achieve the objectives of equality and quality.