Moroccan gov’t teachers protest to demand job security

RABAT

Thousands of Moroccan teachers on Tuesday demonstrated in cities across the country to demand permanent government contracts.

The demonstrations were organized by Morocco’s National Association of Contracted Teachers, an NGO.

According to local sources, thousands of teachers took part in the rallies, which were held in the northern cities of Tetouan, Oujda and Meknes, and in capital Rabat.

At the Rabat demonstration, which was held outside Education Ministry headquarters, protesters called on the government to grant them permanent employment contracts.

Three years ago, the government launched a public-sector employment program for teachers, who were granted temporary two-year renewable contracts.

Temporary contracts, however, which do not provide real job security, allow employees to be abruptly terminated without warning or reason.

In a Feb. 5 address to parliament, Prime Minister Saad al-Din al-Othmani vowed that government teachers with temporary contracts “will not lose their jobs”.

Writing by Ali H. M.Abo Rezeg