Morocco’s House of Representatives abruptly ended its plenary session on Monday after just 30 minutes of a heated debate concerning the ongoing crisis affecting medical and pharmacy students, according to SNRT News.
The session was cut short after the government informed parliament that it was unprepared to address the students’ concerns. This response incited strong reactions from both the majority and opposition parties, who demanded immediate and substantial engagement to address the crisis.
Deputy Speaker Mohammed Sbari, who led the session, announced that the government had responded by stating it was “not ready to engage with the requests presented on this matter.” This announcement ignited a vigorous debate within the chamber.
Idris Sentissi, leader of the Haraki opposition group, stressed the urgent need for the government to address the “tension in medical and pharmacy faculties” promptly and seriously. Rachid Hamouni, head of the Progressive and Socialist opposition group, condemned the government’s lack of response to the parliamentary request, interpreting it as a disregard for both the parliament and the affected students and their families.
The crisis began in 2022 when the government decided to reduce the duration of medical studies from seven years to six, a move that faced significant opposition from students concerned about the potential compromise in the quality of their education and training. The discontent has led to numerous protests and demonstrations, culminating in a vote on December 16, 2023, where medical students overwhelmingly decided to boycott both training and exams.
Abderrahim Chahid, leader of the Socialist group, criticized the ministry’s failure to provide necessary clarifications to parliament, calling the situation “absurd.” He expressed concern for the students’ families, who are facing an uncertain academic year. Abdellah Bouanou, leader of the Justice and Development Party’s parliamentary group, echoed these concerns and accused the government of undermining various parliamentary efforts aimed at resolving the issue.
From the majority side, Omar Hejira, leader of the Independence Group, called for the session to be postponed to allow for consultations and better understanding of the government’s lack of response. This sentiment was supported by the Authenticity and Modernity group, as well as the National Rally of Independents, who also advocated for the session’s suspension to facilitate further discussions and clarifications.
