Moroccan Medical Students Persist in Protests as Exam Dates are Postponed

Wednesday 21 February 2024 - 10:45

Students at Rabat's Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy (FMPR) continue their protests against reforms to medical education, despite the postponement of exam dates in an attempt to ease tensions.

The ongoing confrontation between students and administrators took a new twist this week when FMPR Dean Ibrahim Lakhal announced the extension of the 2024 exam period to accommodate all students. Lakhal stated that the extension aimed to "demonstrate commitment and respect for equal opportunities."

However, the postponement has failed to pacify unrest on campus. Medical students have been boycotting exams and staging demonstrations for weeks to express their concerns about the declining quality of training and controversial government reforms. Foremost among their grievances is a decision by the cabinet last year to shorten the medical degree program from six to five years.

Thursday's announcement followed a high-level meeting attended by representatives from the Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Health, alongside deans and student leaders. Despite ongoing dialogue, students assert that their fundamental demands for adequate preparation remain unmet.

While the exam delay aims to ensure fairness, Lakhal acknowledged that it could lead to disruptions in the academic calendar if unrest persists. With protests showing no signs of abating, the standoff between students and authorities seems far from resolution. Only through constructive engagement between the parties can a solution be reached and Moroccan medical education be set back on course.