Chefchaouen education authorities explain Israeli flag at school event

The regional directorate of the Ministry of National Education in Chefchaouen has issued a statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding the raising of the Israeli flag during a school activity held at Kaa Asras High School on April 24 and 25, 2026.

According to the directorate, the activity was part of a «Model United Nations» program, an international educational simulation designed to train students in diplomatic advocacy within United Nations bodies. It explained that the organizational framework of such activities requires participants to represent different member states’ delegations and engage in discussions on issues of international peace and security, «without any political dimension beyond the strictly educational framework».

The statement further noted that students were assigned roles representing various international actors within simulated councils, including the Security Council and the Human Rights Council.

The directorate also highlighted that «the situation in Palestine» was the central topic of the simulation. Students, acting as «ambassadors», advocated for the rights of the Palestinian people and explored pathways toward a just and lasting peace. In this context, it said, the presence of flags of countries involved in the conflict was part of the logistical setup required to recreate United Nations General Assembly sessions.

Finally, the directorate stressed that the activity falls within the implementation of the 2022–2026 roadmap, which aims to foster students’ openness while strengthening their dialogue and critical thinking skills. It added that reducing the event to the mere raising of a «flag» reflects a partial reading that overlooks the program’s deeper educational objectives, namely, preparing a generation capable of understanding global dynamics and effectively advocating for national and regional issues on the international stage.