‘Sex for Grades’ Scandal Shakes Moroccan Business School ENCG Oujda

Rabat – The National School of Business and Management (ENCG) in Oujda is embroiled in a major scandal after allegations emerged online of sexual assaults attributed to an assistant professor at the school.

Leaked Messenger messages indicate evidence of alleged sexual discussions and proposals of explicit sexual nature initiated by the professor towards one of his female students at ENCG Oujda.

In an anonymous letter posted on ENCGLAND social media platforms, the victim, who has now left the school, was unable to legally denounce the professor’s act for lack of evidence and accused the school of turning a blind eye to the professor’s misconduct.

The erotic messages from the alleged perpetrator sparked outrage among ENCG students, many of whom were quick to show solidarity with the victim, urging the school’s administration to properly investigate the matter.

In the leaked screenshots, the assistant professor asked the student for sexual favors, blackmailing her to give him “an oral-sex session” against “validation” of her academic year.

In response to the reluctance of the student, the assaulter said, “the administration is in my pocket dear,” meaning that her complaints would go in vain if she ever tried to confront him.

“I am addressing you to stop the harassment and these rotten and unacceptable acts,” the student said.

The scandal sparked protests this morning in front of ENCG Oujda, with students coming together to break their silence and vow to fight against the sexual abuse culture that has been on the rise in Moroccan universities.

Another series of screenshots posted online by ENCGLAND document another student’s uncomfortable encounter with the same professor.

In the messages, the professor reproached the second student for not responding to his advances. She said in response,“Your words were disrespectful. I would not tolerate such conversations to happen again.”

Following this morning’s protests, ENCG Students’ Association (ADE ENCG Oujda) issued a statement, demanding the school to “accelerate the investigation and confirm or deny the content of the anonymous email.”

Belkacem Amamou, the director of ENCG-Oujda, told local news outlet Telquel, “We will set up a female-only commission to protect the students’ identity, and include a lawyer to work in accordance with the legal framework.”

Amamou also stressed that he had never received any complaints from students about the professor in question.

It has yet to be revealed whether the victims took legal actions against the accused professor.

Less than 24 hours since the sexual assault scandal was first reported, many student victims have taken to social media to share their experiences.

“Last year, a professor asked me to join a training course that did not exist in the first place … he then started stalking me, calling me everyday. I used to show him some respect because he was my professor but he started to cross the lines even more, threatening me when I didn’t respond to his calls,” an anonymous student said online.

In September, four professors at the Hassan I University of Settat were accused of offering students better grades in exchange for sex. The professors have since been charged with incitement to debauchery, gender discrimination, and violence against women.

Sexual harassment remains widspread in Morocco as many women are reluctant to speak up over fears of social shaming. In recent months, activists and advocacy NGOs have launched several movements and initiatives to change the persisting stereotypes and help victims come out of the dark.