Speaking at a seminar organized by the National Rally of Independents (RNI) in collaboration with the party’s network of university professors under the theme “Government Progress Report and the Performance of the Higher Education Sector,” the official particularly emphasized the unprecedented challenges posed by the Covid-19 crisis and the responses provided by the government to maintain the country’s food security.
Mr. Sadiki, who is also the president of the party’s network of university professors, highlighted the measures taken to stimulate investment in the agricultural sector and rural areas.
He stressed the importance of these initiatives for post-pandemic economic recovery, while also recalling the strategies implemented to combat inflation, particularly in the area of basic food products, in order to preserve citizens’ purchasing power.
The minister also addressed the issue of climate change, presenting the actions taken to adapt the agricultural sector to new environmental realities.
Mr. Sadiki stated that despite unforeseen challenges, the government is rigorously pursuing its established program, adapting its strategies to new realities while staying focused on its long-term goals.
He also emphasized the crucial importance of higher education in the country’s development.
He noted that the Moroccan political landscape more than ever needs the active involvement of university professors, recognizing their role in formulating informed and effective policies.
For his part, Mr. Er-Rafik Youness, first vice-president of the Fès-Meknès Regional Council and coordinator of the RNI in the Fès-Sud constituency, emphasized that this meeting marks the beginning of a new partnership, reflecting the party’s openness to the potential of universities and its willingness to integrate them further into local and national socio-economic development.
Mr. Er-Rafik highlighted the planned investments in the higher education sector, included in the Fès-Meknès Regional Development Plan (PDR) 2022-2027.
This PDR, with a total budget of 30 billion dirhams, will allocate nearly 2 billion dirhams to higher education.
These funds will be used for the implementation of structural projects, including the modernization of university campuses, the expansion of the university hub in Taza, and the creation of a new hub in the municipality of Ain Cheggag, Sefrou province.
The vice-president also presented a series of projects and measures aimed at strengthening research and innovation in the region, including a budget of 40 million dirhams for scientific research, as well as the establishment of several specialized institutes in artificial intelligence in the cities of Fès, Meknès, and Taza.
Other initiatives include the opening of a National School of Commerce and Management (ENCG) in Meknès, the establishment of the first school dedicated to agro-food industry techniques, and the creation of a dental medicine faculty in Meknès.
Other interventions mainly focused on the new status of teacher-researchers, highlighting the improvements made to enhance their working conditions and career prospects.