Moroccan employees protest new university fees for flexible timing

Labor unions and employee coordination groups in Morocco have announced a national protest for August 23 to oppose new registration fees for students utilizing the ‘flexible timing’ system in public universities. The protests target provisions in Law No. 59.24, specifically Article 81, which allows universities to charge employees and workers pursuing higher education additional fees.

Critics argue these fees undermine the principle of free public education and equal opportunity. Reported costs for the 2026-2027 academic year include 5,000 MAD for bachelor’s degrees, 15,000 MAD for master’s degrees, and 20,000 MAD for doctoral studies. Organizations such as the National Coordination of Employees and Workers, the Moroccan Union of Workers (UMT), and the youth wing of the Moroccan Confederation of Democratic Labour (CDT) have expressed concern that these financial burdens will prevent many from continuing their academic paths.

Protest organizers maintain that the flexible timing system is a necessity for workers to balance professional obligations with studies, and that charging for this access effectively commodifies public education. They are calling on the government to revoke these measures and instead increase the budget for higher education and scientific research.