The students are boycotting due to the government’s decision to shorten medical education by one year. They also have concerns about education quality and training conditions, Morocco World News reports on May, 25th.
The hashtag #DoctorsUnderOppression is now trending on Moroccan Twitter. It marks a new chapter in the ongoing protests by Moroccan medical students.
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The digital campaign highlights the situation of student representatives barred from training, with some permanently expelled. A student representative, speaking anonymously to Morocco World News, detailed the disciplinary actions against student leaders:
67 current and former student representatives were summoned to disciplinary councils. Of these, 15 students were suspended for two years, one student was permanently expelled from the university, and several others received warnings. Additionally, some students were prohibited from passing the clinical exams for six months
The issues began in 2022 when the Moroccan Ministries of Health and Higher Education decided to shorten medical studies from seven years to six. Students widely disapproved, fearing compromised education and training quality.
The student representative explained that despite a series of small-scale protests, the ministries did not address their concerns.
After nearly two years of waiting, the situation reached a tipping point on December 16, 2023, when medical students overwhelmingly voted for an open boycott.
In March 2024, authorities escalated the situation by dissolving local student offices and councils across Moroccan universities, including in Rabat, Tangier, Oujda, Agadir, Marrakech, and Casablanca.
Subsequently, 67 student representatives faced disciplinary councils, resulting in suspensions, warnings, or expulsions. Several students were also summoned by the judicial police.
Despite these harsh measures, students continued their protests with sit-ins and marches, many of which were suppressed by authorities.
Morocco World News, Hespress English