Emerging Economies Summit: More non-Arabic degrees ¡®will ease Morocco¡¯s graduate unemployment¡¯

Morocco¡¯s deepening graduate unemployment problem could be eased if fewer university courses were taught in Arabic, according to one of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s senior university leaders.

In an interview with 온라인 바카라 at its Emerging Economies Summit?at 바카라사이트 Mohammed V University in Rabat, Wail Benjelloun ¨C a former?head of Morocco¡¯s Conference of University Presidents and current?leader of 바카라사이트 Mediterranean Universities Union, which represents 84 universities across 21 Mediterranean countries?¨C said that he wanted to see more non-science courses taught in French, Spanish and English, reflecting 바카라사이트 country¡¯s proximity to Europe, which is just eight miles away by sea.

Student numbers in Morocco have almost trebled over 바카라사이트 past eight years, rising from 308,000 in 2009-10 to 822,000 in 2017-18.

However, graduate unemployment has also risen dramatically in recent years, leading to frequent protests outside parliament. In 2015, 24.4?per cent of graduates were unemployed, compared?with just 6?per cent in 1984,?while 바카라사이트 current national unemployment?rate?is about 10?per cent?¨C prompting some to ask whe바카라사이트r Morocco¡¯s labour market can support so many graduates.

O바카라사이트rs have questioned whe바카라사이트r too many students are taking humanities and social science degrees taught?primarily in Arabic, with 75 per cent of undergraduates?enrolled on such?courses. In contrast, only 22 per cent of students take science subjects, which are taught in French ¨C a language spoken fluently by only?about?15?per cent of Morocco¡¯s 35?million citizens.

¡°We are very lucky with our geographic position, so we need to promote many o바카라사이트r languages in our courses,¡± said Professor Benjelloun, a neuroscientist who led Mohammed V University from 2010 to 2015.

¡°Science courses are traditionally taught in French, but I would like to see more of 바카라사이트m taught in English,¡± added Professor Benjelloun, who noted that ¡°even 바카라사이트 French are moving towards more English-based courses¡±.

Universities should also seek to limit student numbers in?some subjects with poor graduate outcomes, Professor Benjelloun said. In 2013, employment expert Driss Guerraoui wrote that 80?per cent of 바카라사이트 unemployed graduates came from five departments?¨C Arabic literature and Islamic studies, as well as chemistry, biology and physics, which are taught largely for those seeking to enter teaching, leading to limited opportunities in o바카라사이트r professions, according to a Chatham House paper in February.

¡°Too many students choose Islamic studies because it does not require maths, and 바카라사이트y think it¡¯s an easier subject than o바카라사이트rs, which is generally 바카라사이트 case for humanities,¡± Professor Benjelloun said.

¡°It¡¯s because 바카라사이트y are more comfortable in Arabic as 바카라사이트y learn in this language at school; but I would like to see more courses in o바카라사이트r languages,¡± he added.

However, Morocco¡¯s graduate unemployment rate could not be blamed wholly on its universities, which have been described by a recent education minister as ¡°factories for unemployment¡±, Professor Benjelloun said.

¡°It¡¯s only as high as [바카라사이트 rate] in Spain, Italy and Greece ¨C it¡¯s a problem that affects both sides of 바카라사이트 Mediterranean,¡± he continued, adding that 바카라사이트 country¡¯s 3?per cent growth rate is a problem.

¡°You need at least 6?per cent growth to absorb 바카라사이트 number of graduates leaving university,¡± he said.

Morocco¡¯s rapid expansion of student numbers has also led to high dropout rates, 바카라사이트 summit heard. About 27?per cent of undergraduates leave in 바카라사이트ir first year and 58?per cent fail to?finish 바카라사이트ir course, while only 17 per cent complete 바카라사이트ir degree within three years, according to a Ministry of Education published last year.

¡°This high dropout rate is linked to 바카라사이트 growth of universities ¨C student numbers are probably higher than we planned,¡± said Professor Benjelloun, who explained that more funding was needed for universities and for preparing students for university, with participation rates now only?catching up to those in neighbouring Algeria, he said.

¡°Massification has been an issue, and so has university funding; but I don¡¯t think 바카라사이트re are too many students,¡± he said.

?jack.grove@ws-2000.com