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A Humanising Education System

Karima Kadaoui: A Humanising Education System – What Impact on Teachers, Educational Teams, and Students?

3 min read

The masterclass on A Humanising Education System brought together the lived experiences of teachers and school directors, with Karima Kadaoui facilitating the session. She emphasized that adopting a positive way of seeing within schools, rather than focusing solely on problems, is essential for transforming both perception and outcomes. Karima illustrated this through the example of a school facing numerous challenges, where participants were able to discover the “light” within the school simply by shifting their attention toward its existing strengths and possibilities.

The discussion also explored the impact of the Pygmalion Effect. Karima reflected on how every child needs to feel seen, valued, and significant in order to learn. She explained that the fundamental conditions for learning: attention, memory, and concentration, are profoundly influenced by a child’s surrounding environment, including fear arising from school, family, or other circumstances. Conversely, love, recognition, and genuine acknowledgment of each individual play a vital role in enabling learning to flourish.

Teachers then shared their own experiences, including stories of working with classrooms composed of students who had repeatedly failed grades or been expelled from other schools. Despite these challenges, they succeeded in creating safe spaces rooted in love, trust, and mutual respect. As a result, the overwhelming majority of these students succeeded academically, and many continued to maintain meaningful relationships with their teachers long after graduation. Participants also emphasized that the Pygmalion Effect does not apply only to students; it must begin with teachers themselves, who likewise need to recognize their own capacities and reconnect with their ability to give, inspire, and nurture others.

Karima also highlighted the experience of the Model United Nations initiative at Allal El Fassi School, where the school witnessed a profound transformation in its students. They developed a genuine interest in diplomacy and international affairs, discovered the “light” within themselves, and, through that discovery, became capable of recognizing the light in others.

The masterclass concluded with a shared affirmation that love must become a foundational principle of the educational system. Participants stressed the importance of centering education on learning rather than grades, listening deeply to students, and understanding every learner, including those with special educational needs. Karima concluded by emphasizing the importance of continuing to share these stories and experiences with new teachers and school leaders, demonstrating that harshness and emotional detachment are not the path to meaningful education. As she quoted:

“A student may not be ready to learn today, but they may be ready to receive love. And the day will come when they are ready to learn.”

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