The white year in the process of cancellation

Eight months of strike, several rounds of tense negotiations, national sit-in, exams of exams … Therefore, The conflict between medical. Similarly, pharmacy and dental medicine at the Ministry of Higher Education finally seems to be coming to an end. Nevertheless, The government has conceded the cancellation of the white year, subject to a written agreement formalizing the commitments made. Nevertheless, This compromise puts an end to an unprecedented mobilization in Moroccan academic history, revealing a deep discomfort within medical training.

The greater conflict that had opposed Moroccan health students for almost a year and their supervisory ministry seems to have crossed a decisive turning point. Meanwhile, In a statement published on July 23. Consequently, 2025, the National Commission for Medicine, Dental Medicine and Pharmacy (CNE) announced the upcoming signature of an agreement with the authorities, validating the university white year process cancellation of the university year 2023-2024 and ratifying the postponement of the application of the new study system over a period of seven years.

The standoff between health students and the Moroccan state has intensified since the controversial reform of the medical curriculum, bringing its duration from seven to six years. In the absence of effective consultation. faced with what they perceived as technocratic precipitation, the students massively boycotted the exams, organized repeated strikes and conducted an unprecedented advocacy campaign. According to the CNE. more than 20,000 students refused to submit to the new university calendar, de facto paralyzing the public faculties of the kingdom.

Read also: When education is on strike, who pays the price?

Faced with this persistent mobilization, and after months of unsuccessful dialogue, the authorities finally agreed to act ” white year For the cohorts concerned white year process cancellation by the 2023-2024 reform, thus avoiding a forceful passage of consequences.

In its press release, the CNE indicates that the agreement was concluded after a series of meetings held in Rabat in the presence of representatives of the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Health and the Royal Cabinet. The compromise would relate to three essential components: the suspension of the reform process. the commitment to a progressive overhaul based on a shared diagnosis, and the maintenance of the current system for the current years. Additionally, The Commission nevertheless stresses that mobilization remains intact until the terms of the agreement are formally signed and published.

A dynamic of consultation to rebuild

Beyond the simple academic claim, this student mobilization reveals a deeper discomfort between young health professionals and institutions. Many people denounce a deficit in structural dialogue. an increasing precariousness of white year process cancellation study conditions, as well as a lack of strategic vision for public health in Morocco.

Especially since the structural challenges of the medical training system-regional disparities, undefined, absence of sufficient clinical internships, emigration of graduates-require a systemic overhaul which exceeds the simple university calendar. In 2024. according to Bank Al-Maghrib, more than 55 % of young qualified doctors planned to settle abroad, a figure up constantly for five years.

This conflict also raises the question of the governance of social dialogue in higher education, at a time when other sectors (education, justice, paramedical health) are crossed by convergent demands. The government is now faced with a demand for clarity, transparency and predictability in the conduct of sensitive reforms.

It remains to be seen whether the commitments made in this emblematic file will open the way to a new culture of consensus white year process cancellation and mutual respect, or if they will mark a provisional break before possible tensions to come.