Morocco’s Minister of National Education, Preschool, and Sports, Chakib Benmoussa announced the signing of an agreement among the government and the National Federation of Education (UMT), the National Union of Education (CDT), the Free Federation of Education (UGTM), the National Federation of Education (FNE), and the National Union of Education (FDT) on Tuesday to implement long-demanded reform in the public education and training system.
The agreement marks the beginning of a new course of action to recover students’ lost school time through intensive educational support, as well as the expansion and establishment of pioneering educational institutions across various regions.
Under the agreement, all employees in the education sector will be granted the status of public servants, subject to the provisions of the general civil service law. Weekly teaching hours for education professionals will be determined by the government authority responsible for education in consultation with the permanent commission for curriculum and program renewal and adaptation.
The agreement also includes a special performance evaluation system based on measurable criteria tailored to the needs of the education sector. It also grants an allowance, in accordance with the December 10, 2023 agreement, to high-ranking civil servants, with a monthly amount of 1,000 MAD beginning in civil servant grade 3 instead of grade 5.
The ministerial commission and the unions representative agreed to establish an exempt class outside the scale with a special rank for professionals whose careers culminate in the exempt class. This measure will take effect from 2026 in line with the outcomes of the central social dialogue.
The agreement will create a single status for teachers certified in 2024 based on the conclusions of a technical commission composed of government representatives and the most representative teachers’ unions. This is in addition to addressing retirement contributions for civil servants hired between 2017 and 2021.
Benmoussa stated that the agreement prioritizes the interests of students and highlights the crucial role of teachers in the education system. The goal is to further promote the teaching profession and enhance its attractiveness through improving career paths, thereby addressing longstanding issues accumulated over the years.
The focus now will be on drafting the implementation language, under the same participatory approach adopted during the formulation of agreement, to address the challenges of the profound overhaul of the education system, and to enhance trust in public schools, promote their attractiveness, and improve their performance.