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Education

Morocco Appoints New Education Ministers Amid Student Protests and Learning Challenges

Thursday 24 October 2024 - 08:50 Journalists: Dakir Madiha

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Morocco has appointed new ministers to lead its education and higher education sectors during a significant government reshuffle, occurring against the backdrop of educational challenges and student unrest.

Mohamed Saad Berrada, a member of the Rally of Independents (RNI) Political Bureau, has assumed the role of Education Minister, replacing Chakib Benmoussa, who transitions to head the High Commission for Planning. This change comes at a crucial time, as the country grapples with concerning literacy statistics. A 2022 World Bank report revealed that 64.9% of Moroccan children under age 10 struggle to read basic texts, slightly better than the regional average of 70% across the Middle East and North Africa.

In the higher education sphere, Azzedine El Midaoui has taken over from Abdellatif Miraoui as Minister of Higher Education. El Midaoui brings substantial academic credentials to the position, having served as President of Ibn Tofail University in Kenitra since 2014 and President of the Conference of University Presidents since 2015. His background includes membership in the European Academy of Sciences and the Higher Council for Education, along with managing 34 research contracts and agreements. His achievements were recognized with the Ministry of Education's Competitiveness Award in 2008.

The ministerial appointments come at a particularly challenging time for Morocco's education sector. Medical students have been actively protesting against proposed reforms, including a controversial measure to reduce medical education from seven to six years. These demonstrations highlight the broader tensions within the country's educational system as it attempts to implement reforms while addressing fundamental learning challenges.

These appointments reflect the government's response to mounting pressure to address educational quality concerns while managing student dissatisfaction with proposed reforms. The new ministers face the immediate challenge of balancing necessary systemic changes with stakeholder concerns across both primary and higher education sectors.