Student boycott disrupts first-semester makeup exams at Medical and Pharmacy faculties

The first-semester makeup exams at medical and pharmacy faculties, which began Thursday, have been disrupted by a widespread student boycott. The protest, which originated from unresolved grievances, has gained significant traction despite assurances from the education ministry of additional sessions for participating students.

Student representatives report that participation in the boycott has been substantial, with many faculties seeing rates exceeding 90%. The students demand that exams be postponed until the ministry formally addresses their concerns.

Key issues include lifting sanctions against suspended students, withdrawing zero scores, and disbanding certain councils. Students also seek to realign the educational structure with a recent decision to reduce study years, excluding the first five cohorts.

Badr Boudii, a member of the National Committee of Medical and Pharmacy Students, stated that the boycott serves as a message to officials and the public. “To resolve this crisis, addressing the students’ urgent demands is crucial,” Boudii told Hespress AR.

He questioned the ministry’s commitment to preventing a “lost academic year” and indicated that the ongoing boycott signals students’ unwillingness to compromise.

Bilal Rabai, a representative from the same committee in Oujda, confirmed high boycott participation at his faculty. “The exams scheduled for this morning, particularly for fourth-year medical students, were boycotted. Reports from faculty WhatsApp groups indicate a 98.7% participation rate,” Rabai said.

He expressed frustration with the ministry’s lack of responsiveness and failure to address student concerns.

Attempts at mediation by the majority parties’ dialogue committee have yet to resolve the conflict. Student leaders maintain that any resolution must address their demands fully and reject involving parents in the process.