Morocco’s Education Minister, Chakib Benmoussa, addressed Morocco’s House of Representatives on Monday, defending the suspension of 500 striking teachers along with the establishment of a national plan to address the problems caused by recent disruptions to Morocco’s education system due to strikes.
Benmoussa underlined the constitutional balance between the right of workers to strike and the right of students to an education. Recognizing that the right to strike is guaranteed by Morocco’s Constitution, he said the law “clearly stipulates that wages must be paid in return for work done.”
“If striking is a constitutional right, students’ access to education is equally a right,” he argued. “And exercising the right to strike must not hinder the continuity of the public service, which in this case is schooling.”
“Access to education must be the paramount interest for all parties in this matter,” the Minister asserted.
Answering parliamentary questions during the oral session, the minister highlighted the government’s active collaboration with education system stakeholders. He noted the government’s successful negotiation with unions, which resulted in major financial benefits for teachers as well as an in-depth assessment of the “Unified Status” for national education employees.
He touted the government’s flexibility in dealing with wage deductions, specifically exempting teachers who returned to school after the mid-term break from having their paychecks reduced.
He also noted the ministry’s encouragement for teachers to participate in pedagogical support initiatives, which include paying compensation for extra hours as part of efforts to make up for missed school time due to strikes.
Reviewing the outcomes of social dialogue, the education minister highlighted the government’s good faith negotiations and response to the demands of those employed in the education sector, highlighting the agreements with the education unions, signed on December 10 and 26, 2023, which provided significant benefits such as income increases and career opportunities, and that also addressed specific category-related issues.
Benmoussa also revealed that a tripartite committee is ready to submit a recommendation on the updated status, emphasizing the integration of all teachers into the public service system, along with salary increases and improvements to existing allowances.
Finally, he addressed the learning difficulties and other obstacles to students’ education posed by the disrupted school year, defending the ministry’s comprehensive national plan developed by a pedagogical team of inspectors which includes three critical elements to guarantee that students receive a high-quality education notwithstanding the loss of school, study, and learning time.