Northern Morocco Schools Suspend Classes Amid Severe Weather Alerts

Schools in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region of Northern Morocco have suspended classes due to severe weather warnings for heavy rain and strong winds. This decision aims to ensure the safety of students and staff, with guidelines established for handling extreme conditions. Local emergency teams will monitor the situation, and classes will resume once it is safe.

In response to severe weather warnings, several schools within the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region have suspended classes due to extreme conditions that include heavy rain and strong winds. This precautionary measure was taken by regional education directorates following a red alert from the national weather service regarding the impending dangerous weather conditions.

The regions affected by this decision encompass Tetouan, Al Hoceima, Ouazzane, Chefchaouen, Larache, Tangier-Assilah, and Fahs-Anjra. Notably, Tetouan announced the suspension of classes across all schools early this morning.

The Ministry of Education’s primary objective with this suspension is to safeguard the health and safety of both students and educational staff. Guidelines have been issued outlining actions in extreme weather, including the halting of school transport in flood-prone areas and the temporary closure of schools when safety is threatened. Coordination with local authorities for monitoring and safety assurance is also emphasized.

Schools are mandated to inform students and parents promptly about class suspensions in order to mitigate the risks associated with unnecessary travel. The decision to resume classes will be based on improvements in weather conditions and the assurance of safety for the students’ return.

To effectively manage this crisis, school directors are establishing local emergency teams tasked with monitoring weather forecasts and road conditions, collaborating with local authorities and civil protection services, and ensuring that appropriate safety measures are operational prior to school reopenings.

Once the weather improves, classes will recommence immediately, and schools are expected to implement recovery strategies for lost learning time, which may include extra lessons and support sessions.

The General Directorate of Meteorology (DMN) has issued weather alerts indicating severe conditions, such as heavy snowfall, strong winds, and intense rainfall across various provinces. Snow accumulation of up to 60 cm is predicted in areas such as Ifrane, Azilal, Beni Mellal, and Midelt from Saturday to Monday. An orange alert has also been raised for Al Hoceima, Chefchaouen, Guercif, Sefrou, Taza, Boulemane, and Khenifra. Furthermore, heavy rainfall ranging from 80-130 mm is expected to affect Tangier-Asilah, Chefchaouen, Tetouan, and Al Hoceima, with wind speeds reaching 95 km/h impacting regions including Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, and Ouarzazate.

In conclusion, several schools in Northern Morocco have suspended classes in light of severe weather warnings, prioritizing the safety of students and staff. The Ministry of Education has established clear guidelines for handling such crises, while school directors are forming local emergency teams to monitor conditions. Resumption of classes will depend on the improvement of the weather, and schools are prepared to facilitate recovery of learning lost due to these suspensions.

Original Source: www.moroccoworldnews.com