Convention Ministry of Al Jalia - Ibn Khaldoun Academy
A Crucial Partnership for the Sake and Future of our Children
A Crucial Partnership for the Sake and Future of our Children
The Minister's Visit to Ibn Khaldoun Academy in the Washington D.C. Area:
- On September 30, 2009, Ibn Khaldoun Academy was honored by the visit of Si Mohammed Ameur, the Minister of Al Jalia (Moroccans Residing Abroad) and some of his staff.
- During this visit, Mr. Ameur met with teachers, parents, students as well as the management and staff of the academy.
- After learning about the academy's programs, curriculum, textbooks, activities and future plans, Mr. Ameur expressed his admiration for the progress the academy has achieved since it started three years earlier. He also reiterated the importance of the academy and the crucial role it plays for the community in general and the children in particular.
- He then expressed his interest, and that of the Moroccan Government, in a partnership with Ibn Khaldoun Academy.
- The Moroccan Embassy in Washington D.C was consulted by the Ministry of al Jalia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Morocco and they gave their full support and approval for the partnership.
The Founder's Visit to the Ministry of Al Jalia in Rabat, Morocco:
- On November 17, 2009, the founder and president of Ibn Khaldoun Academy, Mr. Boubker Abisourour, visited the Minister, Si Mohammed Ameur, at the Ministry of Al Jalia in Rabat, Morocco, to discuss the partnership between the Ministry and the Academy.
- Discussions about the details of the partnership continued with the staff of the Ministry in Rabat. And more discussions followed in Fez during the First Fall University Forum organized by the Ministry of Al Jalia for Moroccan Competencies Overseas in November 2009.
- Regarding the Ministry's financial contribution, Mr. Abisourour suggested that the most effective and transparent partnership should be one in which NO transferred funds will go to pay the founder, management, staff, teachers of the academy, or ANY of its operating expenses. The interests of the Academy and those of the Ministry meet at the Moroccan child and in teaching her/him Arabic, Tarbiya Islamiya and the Moroccan culture, therefore ALL transferred funds should go directly to help and support the Moroccan child's parents (especially the needy ones) in the tuition payment. The staff of the Ministry agreed, and an agreement (Convention) was drafted accordingly.
- During this trip, and at their request, Mr. Abisourour made a courtesy visit to Si Driss El Yazami, the President of the CCME, the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (who visited the academy in October 2009), and to Dr. Abderrahmane Zahi, the Secretary General of Fondation Hassan II. Two major organizations also working for the interest of Moroccans living abroad. Mr. Abisourour took this opportunity to brief them on the partnership with the Ministry of Al Jalia.
- In March 2010, Mr. Abisourour went back to Rabat, Morocco, for the signing ceremony. And on Wednesday, March, 10, 2010, the Convention between the Ministry of Al Jalia and Ibn Khaldoun Academy was signed at the Ministry by the Minister, Si Mohammed Ameur, and the Academy's founder, Mr. Boubker Abisourour.
Convention Between the Ministry of Al Jalia and Ibn Khaldoun Academy:
- The following is a summary of the major points in the Agreement:
- Covers up to 300 Moroccan students and American students of Moroccan origin in the Washington metropolitan area (with priority given to needy families) during the academic year 2011-2012. The convention covered up to 200 students during the academic year 2009-2010.
- More students will be covered during the following academic years.
- Ibn Khaldoun Academy will teach students three hours per week of Arabic and Tarbiya Islamiya in particular and the Moroccan culture in general.
- The Ministry of Al Jalia will cover $30.00 of the tuition cost per student per month, (i.e. $300.00 per student per year) for children of Moroccan nationals who are eligible to benefit from this agreement.
- The Ministry of Al Jalia will provide two Arabic books and one Islamic book to each student for free. Students will pay only for shipping and handling.
- The Academy is responsible for all its expenses including salaries of teachers and employees, rent, utilities, insurance, taxes, etc.
- The Academy will organize two cultural days during each academic year to celebrate one religious holiday and one national holiday.
- Both the Academy and the Ministry will organize a cultural trip to Morocco for two weeks each summer for the best 25 students at the Academy. The Ministry will cover from 10 to 20% of the plane ticket and will be in charge of room and board and transportation within Morocco. During these two weeks, kids will visit different parts of the country, and enjoy and participate in many activities.
- Both the Academy and the Ministry will work in order to support the academic staff professionally and to improve the pedagogic program, and to periodically assess and evaluate them.
- A Follow-up and Orientation Committee (including one person from the Ministry of Al Jalia, one person from the Moroccan Embassy in Washington D.C. and one person from Ibn Khaldoun Academy) will meet twice a year or as needed in order to:
- Ensure both parties are fulfilling their obligations in the agreement;
- Make sure funds are spent appropriately and as intended;
- Study how the agreement could be improved and expanded in the future.
- Once Ibn Khaldoun Academy creates new branches in other cities and states in the United States, these will qualify for the same benefits as the Academy's headquarters in the Washington metropolitan area.
- This agreement is renewable each year for the next 10 years.
