Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Higher Education, Azzedine El Midaoui, reaffirmed that free access to public higher education is a “red line” that will not be compromised.
He said that any reform or renewal within the higher education system will remain grounded in this established principle.
Speaking before the House of Representatives’ Education, Culture, and Communication Committee during the presentation of his ministry’s draft budget, El Midaoui explained that the proposed “flexible schedule training” system does not undermine free education. Instead, it aims to expand access for employees and wage earners who struggle to balance work and studies.
He noted that this model has existed in some Moroccan universities for nearly a decade, and its inclusion in the new higher education bill responds to growing challenges related to the quality of learning and the rising number of students in public universities.
“In some institutions, 40% of students are already employed,” the minister said, adding that the new format would allow them to attend classes after 5 p.m. “in quieter and less crowded conditions.”
El Midaoui clarified that the measure will not replace free education but rather create an alternative to the costly continuing education programs, where fees can reach MAD 50,000 ($4,900) annually for non-accredited diplomas.
Under the new system, employees could earn state-recognized degrees within public universities by paying only symbolic registration fees determined by the level of study.
“These are not profit-making fees,” the minister insisted. “They simply cover the compensation of professors and staff, the use of classrooms and facilities outside regular hours, and the functioning of administrative and security services during evenings and weekends.”
He emphasized that free education for students remains untouched: “Teaching will continue to be free for full-time students. The symbolic fees apply only to workers studying outside regular hours.”
The initiative, El Midaoui said, seeks to relieve overcrowding in universities, improve learning conditions, and offer employees fairer opportunities to pursue higher education in a public system that remains accessible and recognized.
It would also strengthen the appeal of public universities by enabling professors to improve their financial situation within their institutions, “turning the university into a dynamic space that operates day and night like a beehive.”
El Midaoui concluded by reiterating that the principle of free education is enshrined in Morocco’s strategic vision, framework law, and parliamentary mandate.
“There can be no retreat from this principle,” he said, describing the reform as “a practical step toward fairness for working learners and better quality in higher education.”
