Rabat – After returning from the Eid Al Fitr holiday, teachers in Morocco are gearing up for protests, including a nationwide strike on April 22, citing grievances such as arbitrary suspensions and perceived injustices within the education sector.
In a statement released on April 15, a coalition of teachers in Morocco announced a series of protests set to take place over the next two weeks. The coalition, comprising various teacher unions and associations, has declared its intention to mobilize against what they perceive as unfair treatment by the Ministry of Education.
“The educational body has suffered great injustice for decades, with the abuse extending to the point of undermining the dignity of its men and women,” the statement said.
Titled “Call of the Suspended,” the press release outlined a range of protest actions aimed at addressing grievances within the education sector. The coalition alleged widespread mistreatment and disregard for the dignity of teachers, both active and retired, citing arbitrary suspensions and punitive measures as key concerns.
“Despite raising the banners of dignity and justice in our previous protests, those in charge of our ministry insist on a system where no decision is made without prior approval, no plan is devised without causing harm, and no cry of injustice is heard without inflicting further harm on the oppressed,” the statement added.
Among the planned actions are nationwide strikes, scheduled for April 22, which will see teachers across the country abstaining from work in solidarity with their suspended colleagues.
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Prior to the general strike, the coalition plans to hold regional demonstrations, sit-ins, and press conferences to raise awareness of their demands.
Throughout the first week, teachers in Morocco will conduct daily demonstrations during break periods within educational institutions to highlight their grievances.
In addition, sit-ins will be held in various regions of the country, with specific locations determined based on the concentration of suspended teachers in each area.
The week will culminate in a national unified press conference on April 19, where representatives from the teacher coalition will address the media and articulate their demands.
On April 22, a protest is planned in front of the Parliament in Rabat, with a march to the headquarters of the Ministry of Education.
The coalition emphasized its commitment to peaceful protest and called on all the teaching profession members and supportive stakeholders to participate in the upcoming protests.
They also urged the Ministry of Education to address their grievances promptly and to honor previously agreed-upon agreements.
The 2023-24 school year in Morocco commenced with widespread protests by teachers against the implementation of the controversial “New Basic System.”
These protests stemmed from concerns regarding increased workload without adequate compensation.
Following months of protests, the government and teachers’ unions reached an agreement to temporarily freeze the reform, with the promise of amending certain aspects of the system and addressing union concerns.
In light of these protests, several teachers were suspended from their jobs and referred to disciplinary councils due to their participation in these strikes. They were accused of unjustified absence from work and incitement, leading to their suspension.
