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Rabat – The National Committee of Medical, Dental, and Pharmacy Students has issued a strongly worded open letter to the Minister of Health, Amine Tahraoui, urging immediate action on long-delayed reforms and accusing the ministry of failing to uphold its commitments under a settlement agreement signed in November of last year.
The letter, released Monday, expresses mounting frustration over what the student representatives describe as a “policy of deaf ears” and a return to the same dismissive approach that has previously led to nearly a year-long halt of medical and pharmacy faculties.
“Despite choosing the path of responsible dialogue and waiting in good faith for the agreed commitments to be honored, we have seen no tangible progress or even an open line of communication,” the Committee wrote.
The committee places the government’s failure to implement key terms of the settlement agreement at the heart of the dispute, including the not paying the promised higher compensation for student work during clinical rotations.
The current stipend stands at just MAD 21 per day — an amount the Committee says fails to meet even the most basic student living costs. Though the Ministry previously stated that a decree to update the allowance was in progress, students say there has been no sign of implementation to date.
“We ask you today: What is the justification for this delay? Do you truly intend to implement what was agreed upon?” the letter reads. “The promised increase remains ink on paper.”
The letter also recalled a meeting that took place in October 2024, and that was attended by both the health minister and Minister of Higher Education, Azeddine Midaoui, during which officials expressed a “sincere intention” to engage students in meaningful reforms and address long-standing issues that have plagued medical education. Yet, students argue that these commitments have not translated into action, and warn that continued delays could inflame tensions on campuses.
“The atmosphere in medical, pharmacy, and dental faculties has reached alarming levels of discontent,” the Committee warned. “Your Ministry bears full responsibility.”
The students concluded the letter with a demand for a “serious, urgent, and responsible” response from the ministry to avoid the risk of renewed escalation and disruptions in the sector.
Over the past several years, Morocco’s medical, dental, and pharmacy students have been at the center of repeated disputes with government ministries over education reforms, financial compensation, and working conditions during training. These tensions came to a head in 2022–2023, when a prolonged student boycott brought 11 months of disruption to medical and pharmacy faculties across the country.
The November agreement marked the end of the longest student protest in the country’s history, addressing demands that included increased stipends, reinstatement of student unions and the reversal of disciplinary actions against striking students.
This situation is regarded as a litmus test for the government’s commitment to educational reform, student welfare and social dialogue. Failure to respond to the committee’s concerns threaten to revive the tensions — potentially reigniting large-scale boycotts, disrupting clinical services, and jeopardizing the academic progression of thousands of students.
