A Moroccan student “accused of cheating on an exam” commits suicide

A 17-year-old Moroccan girl who was allegedly caught cheating on her high school leaving exam committed suicide on Monday in the western city of Safi, sparking shock and anger in the kingdom, according to reports.

Ahmed Karimi, director of the Regional Academy of Education and Training in the Marrakesh-Safi region, said the student was in his second year at the Marrakesh-Safi Secondary School. Hassan II in Safi.

New Arab could not independently confirm whether the death was related to exams run by the British charity Samaritans, which provides emotional support to vulnerable people, noting that no single event or factor prompts anyone to take their own life.

However, students in Arab countries face enormous pressure during exams, and criticism about the structure of the education system often causes unnecessary stress for students.

Human rights organizations in Morocco called for action following the student’s death, with the Moroccan Human Rights Association saying it was a “tragic event that shocked the country.”

– said the president of this non-governmental organization, Abdel Rahim Hanami New Arabsister site in Arabic, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, that his organization is pressuring the prosecutor’s office and the Ministry of Education to investigate the incident.

He said the “failure of the education system to provide psychological support to students preparing for secondary school exams” needed to be looked at and that penalties imposed by schools and colleges placed an additional burden on students.

Close monitoring during exams, such as nationwide internet shutdowns to prevent cheating, increases tension among students who often feel overwhelmed and vulnerable, Hanami added.

Morocco’s high school leaving exams, which began this week, are known to be extremely stressful for children, given their key role in shaping their future educational and career opportunities – nearly 500,000 students sat the exams in the kingdom this year.

When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day and night, 365 days a year. You can call them free on 116 123, email [email protected] or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch. Alternatively, visit www.stopsilence.net