Maghreb Edition

Morocco: Teachers take to the streets of Rabat to demand better conditionsF

Posted On 24 March 2019

Number of times this article was read : 378

Rabat, March 24, 2019  – Thousands of teachers flooded the streets of the Moroccan capital on Sunday to demand better conditions after a nighttime protest dispersed by riot police left dozens wounded. Teachers on temporary contracts have been on strike since March 3 demanding permanent employment arrangements that would improve their rights and benefits, especially over retirement.

On Saturday night baton-wielding riot police used water cannons to disperse a protest by several thousand young teachers who marched peacefully in central Rabat chanting “freedom, dignity, social justice”. As night fell, demonstrators held aloft candles and used their mobile phones as torches, before setting up a makeshift camp in front of parliament. Police moved in to break up the gathering after the protestors refused to leave following more than two hours of negotiations, according to an AFP journalist. Around 60 people were lightly wounded and taken to hospital, according to Othman Zeriouch, one of the organisers of the protest movement.

On Sunday morning several thousand teachers were back on the streets of Rabat, chanting slogans such as “we must safeguard free education” and “teaching is not a commodity”. They also demanded changes to current temporary contracts — saying “the people want (their) abolition” — in the protest which lasted several hours
and followed a march to parliament. Zeriouch said a meeting would be held later Sunday to discuss future action. Teachers on temporary contracts enjoy the same salaries as their permanent colleagues — 5,000 dirhams ($520) a month — but unlike them do not have access to a pension fund and other benefits.

By AFP

Subscribe to Urgent Notifications and Newsletter

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Morocco Becomes Africa’s Top-Ranked Industrial Economy$

Morocco has become Africa’s leading industrial economy, followed by South Africa and Egypt. The African Development Bank (AfDB) ranked Tunisia fourth, reinforcing North Africa’s position as one of the continent’s principal industrial regions. The AfDB’s 2025 Africa Industrialization Index placed Morocco ahead of South Africa as Africa’s highest-ranked industrial economy.

Algerian Gas Exports to Europe Rise for Fourth Consecutive Month$

Algeria continued to expand natural gas exports to Europe during the first four months of 2026, benefiting from steady pipeline deliveries to key markets including Spain and Italy. While Europe’s gas market continues shifting toward LNG imports, Algeria has maintained its position as one of the continent’s leading pipeline suppliers through a combination of established infrastructure, long-term contracts, and growing LNG activity.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.