The Board of Directors (BoD) of the Regional Academy for Education and Training (AREF) in Dakhla-Oued Eddahab approved, on Saturday in Dakhla, the regional action plan as well as the budget for the 2026 fiscal year.
The ordinary session was chaired by Mohamed Saâd Berrada, Minister of National Education, Preschool, and Sports, and attended by Ali Khalil, the region’s Wali and Governor of Oued Eddahab province, along with elected officials, regional authorities, and BoD members.
In addition to the 2026 action plan and budget, the board approved the continuous training program, the performance report, and the standard internal regulations for public education and teaching institutions.
During his speech, Minister Berrada emphasized that the session represents an important opportunity for dialogue and constructive exchange on ways to strengthen the regional education system. He praised the board members’ ongoing commitment to supporting education reform initiatives at the regional, provincial, and local levels.
The minister stressed the critical nature of this stage in the reform process, calling for a rigorous evaluation of project progress and an acceleration of their implementation on the ground.
He also highlighted several priority initiatives receiving significant budget allocations, notably efforts to combat school dropout through a comprehensive approach based on early identification of at-risk students and mobilization of all regional stakeholders.
Minister Berrada further underscored the gradual expansion of the “pioneer schools” program to primary and middle school levels, considering it a key lever for improving learning quality and pedagogical performance.
He called for the expansion of school offerings, rehabilitation of existing schools and boarding facilities, and reduction of classroom overcrowding through the construction of new schools and the extension of existing ones.
For her part, Aida Bouknine, Acting Director of AREF Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, presented an update on the implementation of the roadmap, the procedural framework programs for the 2025-2026 school year, the regional action plan, the draft 2026 budget, and the continuous training program.
The session also featured the signing of annexes to performance contracts between the ministry and AREF, as well as agreements between the Academy, Provincial Directorates, and the Regional Center for Education and Training Professions. Partnerships and cooperation agreements were also concluded to enhance the quality of education in the region.
