A quarter million pupils in danger

Education independent unions and the Federation of Pupils’ Parents called on the ministry to count the three trimesters average of pupils in third year at high schools to face the phenomenon of a ‘four-month-absence” among candidates before the Baccalureate exam without justification.

National secretary in charge of information and communication at the National Independent Council of High School Teachers Messaoud Boudiba said candidates start leaving school as from the third trimester as they go to tutoring classes.

“Once pupils subscribe for the Baccalureate exam, they do not attend classes any more as they know that they will not punished by law,” he told Echorouk.

He believes that counting the three trimesters average in the Baccalureate score will impose discipline among candidates and oblige pupils to stay in their schools for the whole season.

National secetary in charge of information and communication at the National Union of Education and Training Workers Messaoud Amraoui said the main reason behind the absence phenomenon is the fact that they know that their results during the school year will not be taken into consideration. “Because of that, pupils are dare being absent.”

“If the three trimesters average is counted, candidates will be obliged to continue attending classes until they are stopped in May each year,” he added.