King Mohammed dedicates education, training compound for handicapped persons in tetouan

Morocco's King Mohammed VI dedicated in Tetouan Monday the Hanane II compound of education and training for handicapped persons.

The 13,000 m2 compound, which necessitated a 18 million dirham (about 1.8 million dollars) budget, includes a vocational training center, a center of specialized education, an observatory for studies and research, a healthcare facility and a covered multi-purpose sports hall.

The institution will be training handicapped children and provide them with skills to integrate the job market. It will also support and follow up education research and programs, and coordinate professional and training activities for the compound's executives.

Princess Lalla Meryem, sister of King Mohammed VI, had launched on December 15, 2001, the construction works of the compound.

The compound will ensure the training of 165 mentally handicapped pupils, including 51 girls, as of the 2003-2004 school year. The training center of the other compound, Hanane I, will be in charge 72 deaf pupils, including 28 girls.

The Hanane association for children protection was set up in 1969 at the initiative of handicapped children's parents.

King Mohammed VI also launched several housing projects for the inhabitants of the "Dhar Ahsan," "Taffalin," "Dar Moursya" and "Touibla" shanty towns, and other projects to upgrade drinking water and electricity networks in "Korat Sbaa" district.