As terrorism and bombings by Islamic extremists sweep through Europe ,so does the image of Najat Vallaud-Belkacem . Najat Vallaud Belkacem is not just a French Muslim immigrant from Morocco , she is also the first woman and also the first ever Muslim to hold the post of French Minister of Education.
She was previously a councillor of Lyon and the spokesperson for the Segolene Royal's Campaign (Now Minister of Ecology and Power) during the 2007 Presidential elections in France.
This is in dark contrast to what the outside world think or the perceptions French nationals have about Muslims, especially if one is to remember the horrific images of the Charlie Hebdo massacre last year, French stadium bombings in January and the Belgian train station bombings in Belgium.
Najat is not new in the public eye, as she was once the Minister of Women Affairs before her transfer to Education Ministry, which is one of country's most influential ministries . Najat famously said this about politics : "I see politics as a chance . It's not a blank cheque, in other words . You actually have to deliver", and that is what she is actually doing.
At a time Muslims are segregated and maligned against, mostly due to the terrorism carried out by Islamic extremists, Najat though a non-practicing Muslim has gone on to become the "New Face of France" and the poster girl of the changing and diversifying French country .
After the January bombing in France, pressure mounted on Najat mainly as a result of her faith , but the wife of Boris Vallaud (President Hollande's deputy general secretary), did not fair badly as she announced a €250m plan meant to train students in traditional French values. This was to help assimilate children into the French culture from their various religious and original backgrounds. This also made morals and civic lessons compulsory in French schools. She also made it compulsory , that teachers and students sign a charter to leave all religious convictions outside the classroom .
Najat was born in an isolated and roof leaking farmhouse in Northern Morocco . She grew up in a family of seven in Bni Chiker (Nador village of Rif) and describes her childhood as one where she lacked basic amenities like water before moving to Amiens in France with her twin sister now turned lawyer Fatiha, her mother and building worker father.
Having risen from the being a councillor in right wing Socialist Party, to now the Education Minister out of nothing but hard-work and dedication , which has proved that Muslim youths too can realise their dreams through perserverance and honesty . Najat Vallaud-Belkacem has made a long lasting impression in the eyes of the world that will take a long time to be erased. She has gone from grass to grace against all odds at a time the stakes were all against her, and one prays she continues to rise as France reaps from her steadfastness and effectiveness .
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