Regarding the understandable calls for change by the Moroccan youth and their demands to reform basic and fundamental public policies, I thought to share some reflections on how we got here and how we can move forward. Taking especially into consideration that these demands, as basic as they are, cannot be answered imminently nor can any form of “change” in these sectors start showing tangible results in the foreseeable future — no matter the level of engagement the government or the state is willing to show to Gen Z.
The first slogan heard in the streets carried the message of “We don’t want the World Cup! We want health care first!” (it rhymes better in darija). It was initially clear, concise, and telling of the state of mind of this youth. In my opinion, the meaning of this slogan runs deeper than simply demanding investments in healthcare instead of investments in football.
Healthcare and education sectors have, in fact, had enormous budgets allocated for decades, and investments in the African Cup of Nations and World Cup are not of direct impact on the budgets for healthcare and education, so the question then becomes “what is the true meaning of this slogan?”
Moroccans have always been emotionally attached to football; in defeats and successes, football has always been part of the day-to-day of Moroccan life. Post-Qatar World Cup, interest ran even deeper in Moroccan society. Kids, women, and people from all walks of life started paying attention to our football presence in the world. The foreign image, built on the successes of Morocco’s national teams, showed that Moroccan football made of Morocco was promising. The most recent demonstration of this was the popular vote saga on Achraf Hakimi in the Baton d’Or survey.
It is not an exaggeration to assume that Moroccans are extremely proud of the success of the Royal Vision for Football. The unveiling of the latest Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, built in a few months and opening for its first official game not long before the protests erupted, was a milestone in the execution of this vision. Everyone applauded the workers and architects in the successful accomplishment of the first stadium to host the 2030 World Cup.
However, as proud as we were and as much as the football strategy accumulated various wins — which the entire population witnessed and cheered for – we could not comprehend why we were unable to see this same level of success in other domains that are more vital to citizens and which constitute basic services. With adequate budgets, responsibilities, a vision, and an efficient execution, there was a delivery of positive results which continues now, even at the highest and most complex levels; this is what pushed Gen Z to the streets demanding healthcare instead of the World Cup.
The Moroccan youth were witnesses to the accelerated and successful accumulation of policies related to football, as an example for how it is possible for public policy to be efficient and successful.
Some have questioned why it was the Moroccan youth that engaged with the international context of Gen Z protests, as well as demand solutions from the government. Other countries – which are in a more “dire” state — have not seen such calls to organize from Gen Z. I believe the explanation for this is in the tangible example witnessed of the successful policies of the country — including football.
The youth is deeply aware and protective of the stability and the safety of the country as well as the image of the nation to the outsider. Gen Z understands the privileges it enjoys in Morocco, along with a calculation of the risks of such protests.
Within their constitutional right to protest, Gen Z is aware that the benefits it hopes to yield from their protests is worth the call for basic rights and services, which must be done through efficient communication between the government and the public.
Regardless of whether these protests continue or stop (considering that 10 days after they started, they are already in smaller numbers), the demands of a better healthcare and education system and the fight against corruption are not met through quick decisions. At the same time, I believe that the protesters did get their message across, and some form of answer will be needed. In my opinion, answering these demands is a matter of vision and priorities on a structural level, keeping in mind the ability to deliver quick, tangible wins for the citizens.
Football and Tourism became successful sectors because a strategic vision was put in place, competent people were appointed to steer the Royal directives, budgets were allocated, and results started appearing after a few years of hard work and efficient execution. The state should consider putting both Education and Healthcare on the same line of priorities. Prioritizing a holistic vision for how we can conceptualize better healthcare and education systems and having competent people in charge of these visions and held accountable for is primordial. Budgets will be allocated and we will start seeing results in the coming years no doubt. Why? Because we have seen it in other sectors, we know it is possible. But I believe that the most challenging step in this framework is a vision of reform that is set for success.
There are many ways to make reforms. I believe that in Morocco we have tried enough programs (especially in education) in the last few decades to know by now what works and what doesn’t. An opportunity can be seized by prioritizing a holistic vision with competent people in charge of its execution. Even for first steps of conceptualization, we already have two important documents including the Strategic Vision of Reform 2015-2013 report issued by the Higher Council for Education, Training and Scientific Research, and the New Development Model issued in 2021. These are examples of important documents that the current government has failed to build upon.
Moroccan youth are proud of their stadiums, of hosting the World Cup. They are patriotic and proud of our nation’s successes, be it football, tourism, or diplomacy. But they also want to be proud of their education system, of its efficiency and ranking, and the prospects it provides for meaningful careers. They want to be proud of a healthcare system that strives to serve citizens and aims to preserve the dignity of patients and workers alike.
Moroccan Gen Z have proved that they are patriotic and conscious of their country’s fundamental issues, demanding within their rights the attention of the state. Besides the instances of violence seen in some protests months ago, Gen Z protests rang the alarms for the current government as well as future officials. Regardless of whether these protests continue or die down; the demands are legitimate, have accumulated the wide support of the population, and need to be addressed within both a short- and long-term perspective of positive impact on the everyday lives of citizens.
