Free Tuition Not Discussed by Parliament, Will Continue as Usual: Education Minister

By Chaimaa Zahaar

Rabat – Mohamed Hassad, Minister of National Education and Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research, said that the government did not discuss the issue of free tuition.

“The question of free education has not yet been discussed, and the situation is still the same,” said the minister during the oral questions session in the House of Representatives. Hassad denied any decision made by the government regarding the privatization of education.

“The government has not decided anything in this regard,” the minister said, adding that the Supreme Council for Education, Training and Scientific Research does not decide on the cancellation of free tuition education. Hassad added that ” things will remain as they were” and education will remain to be free and accessible for everyone.

The head of the Higher Council for Education, Training and Scientific Research Omar Azziman, was called to the Education, Culture and Communication Committee of the First Chamber by the team of the Authenticity and Modernity party in the House of Representatives, in order to clarify the motives behind the decision.

The possibility of the cancellation of free tuition education in both secondary and higher institutions, excluding the poor and vulnerable groups, raised a controversial debate within the government and among public opinion since the former head of government, Abdellah Benkirane, presented the draft resolution.