Mohamed Saad Barada, Minister of National Education, Preschool Education, and Sports, presented new measures his ministry is implementing to combat school violence and dropouts during a session in the House of Representatives on Monday. He emphasized that the situation is complex and cannot be resolved in just one or two years.
Barada began his address by expressing condolences for the soul of a vocational training teacher who was a victim of an attack, extending his heartfelt sympathies to her family. He noted that the increasing incidents of violence within educational institutions have compelled the ministry to adopt a series of proactive measures.
The Minister explained that school violence and dropouts are closely linked, stating, “160,000 students leave school at the middle school level every year. Do you think they leave in a state of full psychological comfort?”
He stressed the importance of improving classroom learning by centering the student in the educational process and supporting extracurricular activities such as music, sports, cinema, and painting, which he claims have proven effective in mitigating violence within institutions.
To address school dropouts, Barada confirmed that the ministry is closely monitoring approximately 15 to 20 percent of at-risk students through special listening and support units. He mentioned that some challenging cases are referred for psychological support in collaboration with specialized associations.
The minister announced that the ministry has begun installing smart cameras utilizing artificial intelligence technologies in some educational institutions. This initiative aims to promptly identify incidents of violence and enable administration to intervene quickly to prevent escalation.
He stated, “Some students are also afraid of violence in schools. We monitor every case and seek solutions, whether through academic support or directing students toward extracurricular activities.”
In this context, Barada praised the collaboration with national security and gendarmerie services in securing school environments and removing disruptive elements from outside educational institutions.
