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.
