Official proposal to adopt Saturday as a holiday in education: Details of Bensaid’s vision

A new vision for organizing school time in Morocco

In a move that opens the door to a broad debate on reforming the educational system, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, a member of the collective leadership of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), expressed positive interaction with a proposal to make Saturday an official holiday for teaching staff. Bensaid confirmed that his party is fully open to discussing this proposal, provided it falls within an integrated vision that ensures the student’s interest and takes into account the conditions of the educators.

Saturday is not just for rest, but for pedagogical preparation

Speaking during a media program, the PAM leader explained that turning Saturday into a holiday does not mean a complete halt to work, but aims to provide additional time for teachers to focus on essential pedagogical tasks. Bensaid pointed out that this time can be invested in grading student assignments, lesson preparation, and carrying out complementary administrative and educational duties, which directly reflects on the quality of education in classrooms.

Broader reforms including “school time” and spatial equity

Bensaid’s proposal is not limited to the Saturday holiday; he linked it to the necessity of restructuring school life comprehensively. In this context, he highlighted a proposal regarding the rural world, which involves starting classes at 9:00 AM, in consideration of the transport difficulties and long distances faced by learners in remote areas.

Bensaid stressed that the development of the public school requires a holistic approach that addresses structural issues, starting from improving the work environment for teachers to generalizing school transport and providing an integrated educational environment that ensures equal opportunities among various regions, thereby contributing to achieving the spatial and educational equity to which the Moroccan society aspires.