Morocco plans to establish 27 new universities to combat overcrowding

Morocco's Minister of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, Azzedine El Midaoui, has announced a strategic plan to establish 27 new public universities to address regional disparities and severe overcrowding. Currently, the country operates 12 universities, with some institutions hosting up to 95,000 students, far exceeding the proposed target of 40,000 students per university.

The expansion aims to extend higher education coverage to underserved regions, including Dakhla, Laayoune, Guelmim, and Errachidia. An initial investment of 200 million dirhams has been allocated for the first phase to establish university presidencies and administrative operations. This initiative comes as student numbers are projected to rise by 35 percent by 2030.

Beyond infrastructure, the ministry is facing scrutiny over the 'flexible timing' system, which involves fees for certain academic tracks. Labor unions have called for the abolition of these fees to ensure equitable access for employees and students facing economic hardships. Additionally, the minister highlighted the need for increased private sector involvement in research and innovation to improve the employability of graduates, as unemployment among bachelor's degree holders currently exceeds 20 percent.