"Education is the main instrument for the development of human resources. It turns people into powerful levers that contribute effectively to creating wealth, enhancing awareness and promoting innovative, creative thinking," said HM the King in a message to the participants in the 33rd International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement, which opened on Tuesday in Marrakesh.
The monarch went on to say that education forms citizens who are keen to exercise their rights and discharge their duties in all good conscience - citizens who uphold universal values, who believe in the unity of humankind as much as in their rich yet varied identity, and who are committed to coexisting with others while being immune to extremism and reclusiveness.
HM the King underlined that "keeping in mind the above lofty objectives, the effectiveness of our schools should be essentially measured in light of the extent to which they respond to the basic needs and concerns of young people, who are the driving force in society."
Young people should therefore be provided with the knowledge, competencies, skills, values, languages and culture that help them develop their personality, enhance their independence, improve their qualifications, achieve self-fulfilment, and increase their chances for social and professional integration, the sovereign explained.
"This is something I have always seen as a right, and not a privilege," HM the king stressed, adding that school effectiveness can also be measured by the ability to guarantee education and care during early childhood, and to ensure school enrolment for children from all segments of society.
This approach should be carried out "in keeping with the principles of equal opportunities, social justice and regional equity. This is particularly true for rural areas and deprived regions, for girls in villages and hamlets, for vulnerable children and for youngsters in difficult situations. The same applies to the children of migrants and refugees," HM the King insisted.
The sovereign highlighted the thorough reform of the Moroccan education system, recalling the broad lines of that reform as well as its main priorities in order to achieve a qualitative leap forward regarding training methods and objectives.
"The aim is to introduce a new education system which promotes learner interaction, develops the capabilities of learners and hones their critical thinking skills. Another goal is to provide students with opportunities for creativity and innovation and to consolidate value systems," HM the King underscored.
To ensure sound, practical implementation of this education project, Morocco has sought to include these guiding principles in an integrated framework law that governs the various stages and policies of the education and scientific research system, His Majesty recalled.
The monarch lauded the holding of this international Congress in an Arab and African country since all previous congresses have taken place in Europe, the Americas or Asia.
"This attests to Morocco's credibility in the eyes of various international organizations and institutions, sister countries and partners," said HM the King.