Draft Law on Higher Education Tightens Penalties to Protect Diploma Credibility and Monitor Private Institutions
Azeddine Midawi, the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, announced that Draft Law No. 59.24 concerning higher education and scientific research has entered a second reading after being referred from the House of Councillors. The law emphasizes strict measures against those violating regulations, particularly in offering training without licenses or under the name of foreign institutions, without complying with legal provisions and applicable texts.
During a meeting of the Education, Culture, and Communication Committee in the House of Representatives, the minister revealed that complaints had been recorded regarding the issuance of foreign diplomas without authorization or legal status. He explained that the equivalency of some of these certificates was denied to protect citizens and ensure the credibility of the higher education system, as well as to avoid harming public and private institutions.
Article 67 stipulates fines ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 dirhams for anyone who establishes or manages a private institution of higher education or scientific research without permission, continues operating after the revocation of a license, expands without approval, alters the scheduled programs, employs non-qualified professors, grants unlicensed certificates, or obstructs administrative and pedagogical oversight.
As for Article 84, which sparked discussions between the ministry and employee unions, it has been formulated in a consensus that determines the components of the ministry’s staff from research professors and administrative and technical personnel according to the applicable legal systems.
The minister indicated that the draft law allows the private sector to benefit from licensing public higher education professors to contribute to the training of private institutions, subject to the approval of the responsible authorities, provided that organizational commitments are not compromised.
