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Moroccan Higher Education Minister Faces Controversy Amidst Sweeping Reforms
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A wave of strikes and debate has erupted in Morocco as Higher Education Minister Azzedine El Midaoui pushes forward with reforms aimed at bolstering the performance of public universities and elevating student outcomes. The contentious reforms, formalized in Bill 59.24 and recently submitted to Parliament, have sparked opposition from civil servants and teachers who allege exclusion from the bill’s preparatory process.
The start of the academic year has been marked by unrest, with educators voicing concerns over their lack of input in shaping the future of higher education. Despite the disruption, the minister appeared to downplay the scale of the protests during a press conference on Wednesday, framing them as a legitimate exercise of union rights. “Unions are exercising their full right to express their position in relation to any measure taken in the sector, and this is a positive phenomenon,” he stated, adding that the strike served as a means to gain the ministry’s attention – an attention he assured has been, and will continue to be, given.He outlined two avenues for unions to influence the legislation: submitting proposals for ministry approval to be championed in Parliament, or directly advocating for amendments within Parliament itself.
Addressing Key Challenges in Moroccan Universities
beyond the legislative battle, El midaoui addressed several long-standing issues plaguing Moroccan universities, including language proficiency and academic integrity. A persistent challenge, he noted, is the accumulation of learning gaps stemming from secondary education. To combat this, the ministry plans to revise educational standards for Bachelor’s and Master’s programs, mandating a final-year module taught in a foreign language – English, French, or Spanish – alongside at least one module in Arabic. “This measure aims to correct persistent shortcomings among students, even though we are aware of the challenges it entails,” the minister acknowledged, emphasizing the need for closer collaboration with the Ministry of National Education.
To further support students’ linguistic development, a national digital platform for language learning, E-Logha-Sup, is under development by a Moroccan team of university researchers. The platform is slated for official launch on November 29, 2025, in Dakhla.
Rethinking Research and Combating Plagiarism
Recognizing the limitations of current anti-plagiarism software, El Midaoui proposed a fundamental shift in the approach to research projects. He argued that the emphasis should move away from excessively lengthy theses – citing examples of 600-page works that lack substantive value – towards more focused research based on the critical discussion of existing scientific publications. “Rather of imposing 600-page works on researchers which do not necessarily provide real added value, we seek to reinvent the way in which research is carried out, to allow the student to produce rigorous work, in accordance with educational standards and with real added value,” he explained.
Clarifying Oversight and Addressing Misconduct
the minister also addressed concerns regarding oversight of university practices, clarifying the Ministry of Higher Education’s limited authority. He stressed that inspections can only be conducted at the request of university presidents and with a clear legal basis, mirroring practices in other countries. He further explained that investigations into alleged misconduct are initiated by the university’s scientific commission, with disciplinary recommendations submitted to a bipartite commission for approval, and ultimately requiring the joint approval of the ministry and the head of government. He characterized instances of immoral or illegal practices as “rare and marginal,” calling for increased vigilance within the university system itself.
