Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation Abdellatif Miraoui voiced on Tuesday the country’s support for UNESCO‘s efforts to build “foundations for peace, security, and coexistence between peoples.”
The minister said that Morocco attaches “great importance” to promoting cooperation with the UN organization.
Miraoui made the statement during the International Conference of States for the Adoption of the Revised Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in the Arab States.
The Moroccan minister is chairing the conference, which takes place this week on Tuesday and Wednesday, with his Egyptian counterpart Khaled Abdel Ghaffar in UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris.
Miraoui added that Morocco’s willingness to cooperate with UNESCO is reflected in its commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030.
The minister stressed the importance of the fourth of these goals, which concerns the need to ensure the equality and inclusivity of education quality and educational opportunities.
Morocco’s educational system has faced heavy criticism recently, with many critics lamenting the poor level of preparation that students end up having at the end of their academic training, as well as inadequate staff training and work conditions.
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Miraoui boasted Morocco’s accomplishments in the field, specifically citing the kingdom’s New Development Model, which aims to improve the quality of the educational system through improving the human capital factor, among other goals.
Miraoui also detailed efforts to facilitate study abroad programs for Moroccan students, and encourage participation in them, through various international partnerships and scholarships.
He spoke of his ministry’s plans to cover more than 90 academic destinations internationally through these scholarships and agreements.
The convention which will be adopted during the two-day conference held in Paris, is the result of a three-year review process, after Morocco acceded to revise the original convention in November 2019.
According to UNESCO’s Deputy General of Education, the revised convention will serve as a pillar to strengthen international cooperation in education, and reaffirm the importance of higher education throughout the Arab region.
