Medical students vow persisting with boycott despite heavy government-imposed penalties

Morocco’s medical, pharmacy, and dentistry students vowed to persist with their boycott of training and exams despite the recent government penalties imposed to halt the open nationwide strike.

They pledged to hold a national protest on February 29, in front of the Parliament Dome, according to an official statement by the National Committee of Medical, Pharmacy, and Dentistry Students.

The National Committee held “the Health Ministry as well as the High Education Ministry responsible for the current situation, denouncing the procrastination and neglect that the two ministries have shown for almost years.”

The statement condemned the “tactics employed by officials towards medical and pharmacy students,” underscoring that media disinformation, harassment, and intimidation exacerbate tensions rather than contribute to a swift resolution of the crisis.”

It also “refuted claims that students are being intimidated and harassed by their colleagues and defended the National Committee’s credibility, condemning attempts to discredit it with conspiracy theories”. The statement additionally “denounced efforts to smear the reputation of future doctors.”

The committee reiterated “their categorical rejection of the decision to reduce medical training years from seven to six due to the absence of a clear vision for comprehensive and realistic reform of the medical training system and the direct negative impact of this decision on the quality of future Moroccan doctors.”

They demanded to halt increasing the number of incoming students for all departments due to the lack of infrastructure in hospital training sites and sufficient human resources to accommodate this rise, citing overcrowding in medical and hospital training sites. They also asked for expansion by establishing University Hospital Centers (CHU) that adhere to pedagogical systems and standards.

In addition, the National Committee called for an unambiguous response concerning their demand for increased compensation for tasks for third-year to seventh-year students, regardless of their departments. Their demands also included the implementation of the third-cycle structure with the involvement of National Committee representatives, as agreed upon in the 2019 minutes.

“The policy of intimidation and fear cannot solve the problem or compel students to resume their training and exams. Instead, it only fuels their determination to protest and enhances their awareness,” said Mohamed Rachad El Mallouki, member of the National Commission for Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Dental Students (CNEMEP).

In a statement to Hespress EN, El Mallouki refuted allegations suggesting that some students are being bullied and inciting others to strike.

“On the contrary, from the outset, medical students were fully aware of their decisions, as evidenced by their vote for boycotting exams and initiating an open strike,” further explained the member of the National Commission.

He added that medical students are not concerned about failing the academic year as much as they are about receiving high-quality training and securing a prosperous future.

El Mallouki reiterated that they “are advocating for the well-being of Moroccan citizens,” and “their patriotism cannot be doubted.”

“To those who accuse us of protesting solely to safeguard diploma value for emigration purposes, we respond that if our country provides favorable conditions for education and employment, obviously, no one will emigrate,” concluded El Mallouki in a statement to Hespress EN.

One of the medical students who chose to speak to Hespress EN under the condition of anonymity condemned the statements provided by the two ministers on Thursday, stating that “they have misrepresented medical students.”

“We are boycotting because there is no certainty that our training quality will not deteriorate as a result of the academic year reduction,” the speaker emphasized.

The same person went on to say that “they didn’t attend 14 meetings with the ministries, nor are they asking to control student access to their faculties. Those are all misconceptions that might lead people to have a misunderstanding of our cause.”

“Our cause is noble. It is motivated by our love for the country and concern for the health and well-being of Moroccan citizens.”