Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch defended his cabinet in a campaign rally in Tetouan, northern Morocco, amid accusations from the Justice and Development (PJD) alleging his involvement in misuse of public funds.
In January, Akhannouch ruled out a new mandate as the leader of the National Rally of Independents (RNI), stating he would not seek reelection in Morocco’s legislative elections, which is coming in a few days.
In his capacity as the current Head of Government and member of the political bureau of the RNI, Akhannouch defended his cabinet’s legacy, alleging that it has seen the implementation of a number of major social and economic reforms and projects.
Akhannouch said the government worked to “strengthen the foundations” of the social state and improve services provided to citizens, citing jobs, education, and healthcare reforms.
He said the percentage of “pioneer schools” reached around 80% while the “issue of contract teachers has been settled.”
Pioneer schools is an education reform that the Ministry of Education launched to boost learning skills and cut student dropout rates.
Estimates show that nearly 280,000 students abandon school annually, with 160,000 dropping out at the middle school level.
Education Minister Mohamed Saad Berrada shared the alarming statistics last year in April, acknowledging the challenges are more evident in rural areas.
For the contractual teachers case Akhannouch referenced during the meeting, it dates back to years ago, when protests gathered tens of thousands of teachers who had been urging the government to engage them in the public sector instead of recruiting them by contracts.
Another challenge is Morocco’s decision to cap the age of candidates for teacher recruitment exams at 30.
PJD leader Abdelilah Benkiran on Saturday accused the Akhannouch cabinet of committing “many disasters,” stressing that the government’s decision to prevent people over the age of 30 from taking part in teaching recruitment exams is neither legal nor constitutional.
The PJD leader pledging his party would abolish this condition.
“These people are afraid of strikes, protests, and people taking to the streets,” Benkirane said, adding that “this is not how things are done. You must legislate for the people in a way that guarantees what is their right and serves their interests.”
Benkirane also accused Akhannouch of “clock theft,” referring to his pledges to abolish GMT+1 if elected. Akhannouch, however, decided to abolish GMT+1 in June, with immediate effects on September 20 – just a few days before the elections.
Benkirane also accused Akhannouch for “putting his hand in public funds.”
However, Akhannouch maintains that his government has “seen wage increases in several actors, alongside the launch of direct social assistance and direct housing assistance.”
He has touted continued expansion of healthcare coverage, stressing that around 80% of citizens are now covered.
Akhannouch also pledged that if his party is elected, the next phase would see “continued reform of labor market meditation mechanisms” and create “one million jobs” during the next phase. Yet this is a promise the head of government already made during the 2021 elections.
