Moroccans protest over ‘poor education conditions’

Hundreds of trade unionists and teachers demonstrated yesterday in front of Morocco’s Ministry of Education in the capital Rabat, demanding better education conditions. The protest was called by the National Federation for Education.

Protesters called for “real education reform” and rejected the “privatisation of education and the cancellation of free education.” They also called for improved employment terms and conditions for teachers.

The Moroccan government has defended a recent series of measures that have been taken to transform the education system. Last month, the Ministry of National Education and a number of other ministries and institutions signed three agreements aimed at developing education across Morocco.

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The agreements were signed at a ceremony that was presided over by King Mohammed VI. They are reported to have stipulated the development of boarding school programmes; the upgrade of school meals’ provision; the establishment of two vocational training centres in Rabat and Casablanca; and creating a number of educational sporting clubs.

During the signing ceremony, Education Minister Saïd Amzazi pledged to pay “special attention to reviewing the mechanisms and programmes that support youth employment.”