Marrakech – On a bright, symbolic Saturday morning (June 21) in Berkane, the Groupe Scolaire Benalmanara — a school with its own farm — gathered its community to mark two impressive milestones: the prestigious “ISO 21001:2018” certification and the hoisting of the international Green Flag.

No, this wasn’t your typical school awards ceremony with stiff chairs and half-hearted claps. 

This was something else. Picture government officials in dress shoes dodging muddy patches, students guiding them through vegetable gardens, and laughter ringing out over the sound of chickens. 

It felt more like a village fête than an institutional event. But that’s the beauty of it. Benalmanara isn’t interested in playing by old-school rules.

The celebration took place at their pedagogical farm — a phrase that could sound intimidating if it weren’t so charming in practice. 

Imagine a schoolyard that smells like rosemary and soil, where children sing songs about water conservation and proudly introduce guests to sheep they’ve named. 

It’s the kind of place where education doesn’t end at the classroom door, and learning looks like digging, growing, sharing.

The school’s recent ISO certification, granted by DQS Maroc, isn’t just a shiny badge. 

It validates a deeper shift — one where the student is the center, where inclusivity isn’t a buzzword but a baseline, and where “continuous improvement” means exactly what it says, day in and day out. 

Then there’s the Green Flag certification — awarded under the Eco-Schools program — which now flutters proudly as a symbol of an entire ecosystem built around responsibility, not just grades.

You can feel the vision of Anas Benadel, the school’s director, in every detail. A graduate of Skema Business School and Florida International University, he could’ve stuck to spreadsheets and suits. 

Instead, he’s out here leading a team that’s planting seeds — figuratively and literally — for a different future. One that’s rooted in care, in curiosity, in resilience.

The kids didn’t just smile for the camera. They owned the day. With theater performances about climate change, stations explaining crop rotation, and a mini-market of homegrown organic produce, they showed what it means to be young and engaged. 

There were no shiny PowerPoints or grand speeches needed — just real, messy, meaningful work.

And honestly, isn’t that what education should be?