Rabat – Morocco’s higher education system is facing a period of upheaval as Minister Azzedine El Midaoui attempts to enact sweeping reforms aimed at modernizing public universities and addressing concerns over quality and academic integrity. Teh proposed changes, currently debated as draft legislation 59.24, have been met with resistance from faculty unions who allege a lack of consultation in the drafting process, leading to ongoing strikes and protests across the country’s university campuses. Amidst the unrest,the Minister is also pushing forward with initiatives to improve language skills and combat plagiarism,unveiling a new digital learning platform set to launch later this month.
Morocco’s Minister of Higher Education, Azzedine El Midaoui, is facing mounting criticism and faculty strikes as he pushes forward with reforms aimed at improving the country’s public university system. The proposed changes, detailed in draft legislation 59.24 currently before Parliament, have sparked protests from educators who claim they were excluded from the drafting process.
Despite the ongoing unrest, El Midaoui appeared to downplay the severity of the strikes during a press conference Wednesday, framing them as a legitimate exercise of free expression. “The unions are exercising their full right to express their position on any measure taken in the sector, and that is a positive phenomenon,” he said. “Their strike was mainly to attract our attention to listen to them, which we have done and will continue to do in the future.”
El Midaoui outlined two avenues for unions to influence the legislation: submitting proposals and amendments to the ministry for consideration, or directly advocating for changes within Parliament.
Beyond the legislative debate, the minister addressed concerns about the quality of education within Moroccan universities, specifically focusing on language proficiency and academic integrity. He announced planned revisions to curriculum standards for Bachelor’s and Master’s programs, requiring students to complete a course in a foreign language – English, French, or Spanish – alongside coursework in Arabic during their final year.
“This measure aims to correct the persistent shortcomings among students, even though we are aware of the challenges it implies,” El Midaoui stated, emphasizing the need for increased collaboration with the Ministry of National Education.
To support language development, a national digital platform, “E-Logha-Sup,” is under development by a multidisciplinary team from public universities and is slated for official launch November 29, 2025, in Dakhla. The platform aims to provide students with resources to enhance their linguistic and transversal skills.
Addressing the issue of plagiarism, El Midaoui acknowledged the limitations of existing anti-plagiarism software. He suggested a shift in the structure of research projects, advocating for a model similar to those used in other countries, where research is focused on the discussion of scientific publications within a defined page limit.
“Instead of imposing research papers of 600 pages that do not necessarily add real value, we are seeking to reinvent the way research is conducted, to allow students to produce rigorous work that meets pedagogical standards and has genuine added value,” he explained. This move underscores a desire to prioritize quality over quantity in academic research.
El Midaoui also touched on the issue of misconduct within universities, stating that such cases are rare and require increased vigilance from university administrations. He clarified the limits of the Ministry’s oversight authority, noting that inspections can only be conducted at the request of university presidents when a problem arises – a practice consistent with standards in many countries.
He further explained that disciplinary measures for illegal practices are determined by the university’s scientific commission and a joint commission, with the Ministry and the head of government jointly approving any proposed sanctions.
