Latest news with #ElMidaoui
Morocco World
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Ibn Zohr President Dismissed Over Master's Degree Scandal
Doha – Abdelaziz Bendou has been relieved of his duties as president of Ibn Zohr University in Agadir following a major corruption scandal involving the sale of master's degrees. According to multiple converging reports, the Minister of Higher Education, Azzedine El Midaoui, made the decision on Tuesday. The dismissal comes after an investigation into what has become known in media circles as the 'Master's Degree Scandal' or 'Kilch Master's,' involving fraudulent enrollment in master's programs at the university's Faculty of Law. The scandal erupted when authorities arrested a university professor suspected of illegally registering several employees and lawyers in a master's program without following proper regulations, in exchange for bribes. The professor is currently being held at the Oudaya prison in Marrakech while the investigation continues. Following the initial revelations, the Minister of Higher Education summoned both the university president and the dean of the Faculty of Law to Rabat for questioning. This meeting was part of a broader effort to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged sale of university certificates. El Midaoui then dispatched a central inspection committee to the university. Based on the committee's findings, the minister decided to dismiss Bendou, who had been serving as president since 2020. As an interim measure, Abderrahmane Amsidder, the current director of the Higher School of Education and Training (ESEF) in Agadir, has been appointed as acting president and financial officer of the university effective Wednesday. He will serve in this capacity until a new president is officially appointed. In an official letter addressed to Amsidder, Minister El Midaoui stated: 'To maintain the normal operation of Ibn Zohr University in Agadir, I am informing you that you have been appointed as acting president of the university and its financial officer starting Wednesday, June 11, 2025, until a new president is appointed. I wish you success in your duties.' The investigation has also implicated several other individuals, including the professor's wife who works as a lawyer in Agadir, the head clerk at the Court of First Instance in Safi, his son who is a trainee lawyer, and several other lawyers. These individuals are being investigated while remaining free, though their passports have been confiscated and they are banned from leaving the country. This case represents one of the most serious corruption scandals in Morocco's higher education sector in recent years, severely damaging the reputation of Ibn Zohr University, one of the country's largest academic institutions. It comes only three years after the notorious 'Sex for Grades' scandal of 2022, when several professors at Hassan I University in Settat were arrested and convicted of sexually harassing female students in exchange for academic incentives. Sources close to the case indicate that further decisions related to this file may be forthcoming as investigations continue under the supervision of the competent public prosecutor's office. Tags: Degree fraudIbn Zohr Universitymoroccan university
Maroc
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Maroc
HRH Princess Lalla Asmaa's Visit to Gallaudet University Strengthens U.S.-Morocco 'Excellent Relations'
The visit of Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmaa to Gallaudet University, the only institution in the world offering education of deaf and hard of hearing people, further strengthens the "excellent relations" between Morocco and the United States, minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, Azzedine El Midaoui said Friday in Washington. This visit will "strengthen the excellent relations that have always existed between Morocco and the United States," El Midaoui told the press, adding that this visit will also help consolidate the distinguished relationship between the Lalla Asmaa Foundation and Gallaudet University, which is recognized as a unique and highly significant experience at the international level. El Midaoui, who is also a member of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation's Board of Directors, emphasized that the signing of a letter of intent between the Foundation and this prestigious university will serve to "duplicate, while improving, the Gallaudet experience," thus enabling Morocco to host a university that provides education, in the same environment, to deaf and hard-of-hearing people. Speaking on the same occasion, minister of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family, Naïma Ben Yahia, said that this visit comes as part of the "sustained efforts made by Her Royal Highness, through the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, to support deaf and hard of hearing children and youth. "The signing of a letter of intent between the Foundation and Gallaudet will enable young deaf and hard of hearing Moroccans to benefit from the pioneering experience of this academic institution, emphasized Ben Yahiya, who also sits on the Foundation's Board of Directors. For his part, Morocco's ambassador to the United States, Youssef Amrani, affirmed that this visit is in itself "an eloquent testimony to the depth, the breadth, and the maturity of the exceptional partnership that unites Morocco and the United States of America." Beyond the political convergence and sustained diplomatic relations that punctuate this partnership, the human and social component remains an essential and structuring pillar, Amrani said, emphasizing that, in line with the vision of HM King Mohammed VI, Her Royal Highness has "enriched our interaction with the United States with renewed vigor, confirming and deepening the closeness and commitment between Rabat and Washington." In a similar statement, Gallaudet University President Roberta Cordano said: 'we are so proud for this opportunity to share our knowledge and experience not only in providing higher education opportunities, but also in providing support to transform the lives of deaf people in your country, in the region and Africa.' "The commitment in Morocco is already present,' she said, adding that 'Morocco's history and the country is a gateway to collaborations that can happen throughout Africa. 'For her part, Zahra Ketoun, a Moroccan doctoral student at Gallaudet since 2021, expressed pride in her experience, which taught her 'skills, knowledge and support for the deaf communities on a global level'. The signing of a letter of intent with the Lalla Asmaa Foundation represents "a big step in building a strong foundation of support in access to sign language for the deaf community in Morocco.' She added that this agreement reflects Her Royal Highness's commitment and strong support for deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Morocco. Zakaria El Kantaoui, a former student of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, echoed the same sentiment, highly praising the Foundation's tireless efforts to support deaf and hard-of-hearing youth in Morocco. "I am a product of the generosity of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation," said El Kantaoui, who is pursuing his English studies at Gallaudet, adding that he is determined to "return to Morocco after my studies to share my knowledge with the deaf and hard of hearing community." MAP: 03 Mayo 2025
Ya Biladi
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Morocco considers monthly scholarship disbursements to boost student support
The Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, Azzedine El Midaoui, announced on Tuesday in Rabat that his department is considering switching to monthly scholarship disbursements for students, replacing the current system. Responding to an oral question from the Haraki group in the House of Councillors regarding the generalization of university scholarships for students from underprivileged families, El Midaoui explained that the number of scholarships awarded annually is determined by a joint decision between the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Higher Education, based on the available budget. He noted that the ministry uses the Unified Social Registry as the sole national criterion to ensure fairness and equal opportunity in scholarship distribution. For the current academic year, 174,000 out of 187,000 scholarship applications submitted within the legal deadline were approved, yielding a national satisfaction rate of 93%. The minister highlighted that all applications were approved in 15 prefectures and provinces. In 62 others, the approval rate exceeded 90%, while in 15 it ranged between 80% and 90%, and dropped below 80% in only five. El Midaoui added that the ministry, through the National Office of University Social and Cultural Works, is currently working to distribute scholarships to eligible students enrolled in higher education institutions. Acknowledging budgetary constraints, the minister emphasized the need to explore sustainable funding solutions—particularly through partnerships with the private sector, local governments, and elected officials—to expand and strengthen the scholarship system.
