The Independent Union of Nurses and Health Technicians in Morocco has called on the government to reverse provisions in Law No. 59.24, saying the changes effectively end the constitutional guarantee of free higher education for public employees and will make postgraduate study unaffordable for many healthcare workers.
Union calls law a barrier to professional advancement
In an open letter dated 31 August and reported by Hespress English, the union said the law introduces university fees and administrative restrictions that could limit access to master’s and doctoral programmes for nurses and health technicians. The union argued the policy amounts to the commercialisation of higher education and urged that it be rescinded “quickly and permanently”.
The union highlighted the heavy workloads faced by healthcare staff — including night shifts, long continuous duties and psychological strain — and said many employees also shoulder family responsibilities while attempting to further their education. It said the law imposes what it described as “heavy financial burdens” instead of providing measures such as administrative support, incentives or financial assistance for staff taking academic leave.
“The union considers university fees imposed on employees pursuing higher studies a serious government attack on the constitutional right to free education,” Ahmed Chenaoui, national secretary of the Independent Union of Administrative and Technical Health and Social Protection Staff, told Hespress English.
Potential consequences for healthcare and research
The union warned that introducing fees and restrictions could discourage nurses and technicians from continuing with postgraduate education and limit their engagement in scientific research and professional development. That, it said, would have implications for the quality of healthcare services and the pipeline of clinical researchers and senior practitioners.
While the union’s letter focuses on healthcare workers, its objections raise broader questions about the balance between public-sector employment terms and higher education policy. If public employees are required to pay fees or face new administrative hurdles to study, the pool of staff able to pursue advanced qualifications may shrink — with potential knock-on effects for patient care, supervision and teaching in clinical settings.
Union demands and proposed alternatives
The union urged the immediate removal of restrictions affecting healthcare workers’ access to higher education and reaffirmed its support for public higher education and the right of nurses and technicians to professional and academic advancement. Instead of fees, the union suggested administrative measures and financial supports to enable staff to study while employed.
- Reverse provisions of Law No. 59.24 that introduce fees for public employees studying at university.
- Remove administrative restrictions that limit access to master’s and doctoral programmes for healthcare workers.
- Introduce incentives, leave arrangements and financial support to facilitate part-time and full-time study for staff.
The union framed these measures as necessary to preserve the constitutional commitment to free higher education and to protect opportunities for research and career progression in the health sector.
Context and next steps
The open letter is the latest public challenge to Law No. 59.24. The union has called for a prompt and permanent reversal of the contested measures. The report does not say whether the ministry of higher education has yet responded to the union’s demands, or whether other public-sector unions have raised similar objections.
For learners, educators and health managers this dispute underlines the link between higher education policy and workforce development. If postgraduate study becomes harder to access for frontline professionals, systems that rely on clinician-educators and locally trained researchers may face longer-term shortages in senior clinical expertise and academic capacity.
Any government response will need to weigh fiscal and administrative objectives against the potential cost to professional development in critical services. The union’s demands centre on protecting access to study and ensuring healthcare workers can balance work, study and family responsibilities without bearing new financial burdens.
