By Youssef B. Khouya
Morocco World News
Rabat, May 13, 2012
Much ink has recently been spilled over the problem of unemployment among those holding higher education degrees such as a master’s or Ph.D. degree.
Some stated that those unemployed individuals demonstrating in Rabat’s streets do have the right to be directly integrated in the public sector, while others claim that the direct integration is a big mistake that needs to be eliminated.
Many newspapers have even published offensive comments regarding those who are jobless. For example, those holding higher education degrees have to sit for an examination to be integrated in the public sector, because most of them are believed to be incompetent.
However, as an unemployed master holder, I just want to inform this government about the very long and unpaved way that those people went through in order to obtain their high degrees.
First of all, it is clear that only very few students pursue their studies in Moroccan universities, precisely 10 percent. Within that percentage, only 1 percent of Moroccan students obtain a high degree. Moreover, being accepted into a master’s program is not an easy process. Students should have several distinctions in their bachelor degree, that is, they have to be among the best students in their departments.
After being accepted by professors who “are known for their professionalism and competence,” students move on to a new system of education which is highly complicated in comparison with the bachelor’s degree system. It is mainly based on giving presentations, discussions, playing the role of teacher, sitting for training and finally writing a sophisticated thesis about a topic that they must defend in front of a jury.
How can this government claim that those unemployed demonstrators must take an examination while having already taken a hard and competitive written and oral exam? This decision really discredits the Moroccan higher education system to be weak and unable to produce competent professionals.
The new government led by the PJD is doing all its best to deprive this new unemployed generation from being directly integrated into the public sector. Precisely, the president of this new Islamist government has violated the law by trying to refute the 02.11.100 decree, which was issued by King Mohamed VI. This decree states that all high degree holders have the right to be integrated in the public sector until December 31, 2012.
This new government needs to take into consideration that unemployed protestors strongly believe that a right is taken and not given. We will not leave Rabat’s streets until our right has been taken and achieved.
Edited by Benjamin Villanti
