Morocco approves higher education quality reform, corporate governance amendments

Morocco’s Cabinet on Thursday approved a series of draft laws and decrees covering higher education reform, school guidance services, corporate governance and an international prisoner transfer agreement.

The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

The government adopted draft Law 68.25 amending Law 80.12 on the National Agency for the Evaluation and Quality Assurance of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The bill was presented by the minister of higher education, scientific research and innovation.

According to a government statement, the legislation aims to modernize the legal and institutional framework governing the evaluation of higher education and scientific research in order to improve quality and align practices with internationally recognized standards.

The reform clarifies the agency’s mandate and its relationship with other institutional stakeholders involved in evaluating higher education and research. It also introduces new responsibilities related to evaluation processes and changes the agency’s name to the Moroccan Agency for the Evaluation and Quality Assurance of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

The Cabinet also approved draft Decree 2.20.471 on school, vocational and university guidance, presented by the minister of national education, preschool and sports.

The decree implements provisions of Framework Law 51.17 on the education, training and scientific research system, particularly Articles 18, 27 and 34. It seeks to strengthen and institutionalize guidance services in schools and training institutions, clarify their scope and define key concepts, including academic and career counseling and the objectives of such services.

The measure also includes provisions to adapt guidance services and mechanisms to the needs of students with disabilities or those in vulnerable situations, and defines the concept of a student’s personal project within the guidance system.

In addition, the government approved draft Decree 2.25.1080 amending Decree 2.09.481 of Dec. 21, 2009, which implements Law 17.95 on joint-stock companies. The draft was presented by the minister of industry and trade.

The amendment modifies provisions related to capital increases, requiring that conditions for determining the issue price, alongside the price and its amount, be included among the minimum information contained in the statutory auditor’s special report. It also extends to provisions requiring the auditor to express an opinion on the fairness and credibility of the criteria used by the board of directors or management board in setting the issue price or related premium.

The Cabinet concluded its meeting by reviewing a prisoner transfer agreement between the government of Morocco and the government of Jordan, signed in Amman on Oct. 5, 2025, as well as draft Law 011.26 approving the agreement. The texts were presented by the minister of foreign affairs, African cooperation and Moroccan expatriates.