Morocco’s planned university fees draw criticism from political parties, rights groups

Morocco’s planned tuition fees for flexible-schedule university programs for working students have continued to draw criticism from political parties, rights groups and academics, with opponents describing the proposed costs as excessive and warning that they could make higher education less accessible.

The fees are set to take effect in the 2026-2027 academic year and would apply across Morocco’s public universities. Under the proposal, students would pay MAD 5,000 annually for license programs, MAD 18,000 for bachelor’s programs, MAD 15,000 for master’s degrees and MAD 20,000 for PhD programs.

The proposal follows a recommendation by the Conference of Moroccan University Presidents.

In a statement Thursday, the Left Alliance criticized the planned fees, arguing that the total cost of completing a university program could exceed MAD 140,000 and rejecting what it described as the “commodification of higher education.”

The alliance said the measure would disproportionately affect workers and employees whose purchasing power has been weakened by successive economic and social crises.

It also argued that the fees conflict with Article 31 of Morocco’s Constitution, which calls on the state to facilitate citizens’ access to education.

The Left Alliance said the proposed fees do not reflect Morocco’s social and economic realities. It pointed in particular to the MAD 20,000 annual fee for PhD programs, arguing that the amount represents more than six months of wages for a worker earning the MAD 3,202 minimum wage, before accounting for rent, transportation, family expenses, academic references and publication costs.

The group also rejected the argument that tuition fees would help “diversify university resources,” saying the approach would effectively shift part of the cost of financing public education and scientific research onto workers and employees.

Exemption for low-income students questioned

The Conference of Moroccan University Presidents previously recommended in December 2025 that low-income students be exempted from tuition fees for flexible-schedule programs.

The Left Alliance, however, said the exemption for minimum-wage earners remains only a recommendation and is not legally binding on universities.

It warned that this could result in different treatment of students depending on the university they attend.

The proposed MAD 20,000 annual fee for the first four years of flexible-schedule PhD programs initially triggered widespread criticism after Chouaib Doukkali University announced that it would introduce the fee starting in the next academic year.

The announcement sparked criticism on social media, with users arguing that the cost could discourage working students from pursuing doctoral studies and negatively affect scientific research in Morocco.

Unions question impact on public education

The proposed fees are linked to Law 59.24, which has faced opposition from union bodies.

Mustapha Azaitraoui, deputy secretary-general of the National Union of Higher Education and a university professor, said the legislation undermines the principle of free public education and was introduced without adequate consultation.

Former Secretary of State for Higher Education and Scientific Research Khalid Samadi also warned that introducing fees for flexible-schedule doctoral programs could reduce overall enrollment and the number of PhD graduates.

Samadi argued that doctoral enrollment and graduation rates are important indicators of university performance and could have implications for Morocco’s position in international university rankings.

He said such rankings are also relevant to countries seeking to strengthen their position among emerging economies, an objective Morocco has been pursuing.

Samadi questioned whether higher education authorities would prioritize that broader national objective or place greater emphasis on measures such as diversifying university revenues, academic programs and administrative procedures.

Rights group raises constitutional concerns

The Moroccan League for the Defense of Human Rights also challenged the proposed fees.

In an open letter sent Friday to the higher education minister, the organization said the plan raises serious human rights, constitutional and legal concerns, particularly regarding the right to education, equality, non-discrimination and equal opportunity.

The league warned that higher fees could deepen existing social and economic disparities in access to higher education.

It argued that making access to higher education dependent, even partly, on an individual’s ability to pay raises questions about the compatibility of the policy with Morocco’s constitutional and international obligations.

The rights group also stressed that the state has a responsibility to ensure equitable access to education and to avoid policies that weaken existing protections for the right to education.

The debate comes as Moroccan universities face pressure to diversify their sources of funding while expanding access to higher education and strengthening scientific research.

For critics, however, the proposed fees risk placing a greater financial burden on working students at a time when many are already balancing employment, family expenses and the cost of pursuing higher education.