فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
A report from the temporary exploratory mission tasked with monitoring the living conditions in university dormitories has highlighted a significant absence of essential facilities necessary to improve student housing conditions. This lack negatively impacts students’ quality of life and their ability to study in decent conditions.
The committee members emphasized a yearly increase in the number of students applying for dormitory housing, while there is a clear lack of capacity, leading to the exclusion of many students from their right to accommodation despite their urgent need for it.
During field visits to university dormitories in cities such as Oujda, Fes, Marrakesh, Agadir, Tangier, and Beni Mellal, the committee members were shocked to find a significant number of unutilized beds, sometimes exceeding 100 beds, which remain unused. They also discovered that some housing units had been converted into storage rooms for scrap materials rather than being rehabilitated to accommodate students.
The report indicated that while the administrative procedures for benefiting from dormitory housing appear simple in terms of required documents and conditions, the reality presents multiple field difficulties. The most pressing issue is the inadequate infrastructure and number of available beds compared to the increasing number of students.
The report also noted that the number of students per room exceeds the room’s capacity, making living conditions unhealthy and uncomfortable, and increasing the risk of disease due to the lack of safety and hygiene standards.
The committee observed significant deterioration in the condition of the rooms, which were found to be cramped and suffering from dampness and cracks due to poor ventilation. This makes them unsuitable for dignified living and perpetually exposed to moisture.
The report also highlighted a lack of basic equipment in these rooms, such as bedding, lighting, and water, along with frequent malfunctions in water taps. Some beds were of poor quality, forcing students to purchase additional supplies despite limited financial resources.
Several interviewed students complained about the lack of responsiveness from maintenance services concerning issues like lighting, water supply, and bathroom door repairs, noting that complaints were often met with no response.
The report also addressed the poor hygiene conditions, with unpleasant odors emanating from some dormitory wings due to the lack of daily maintenance. It recommended providing sufficient human resources and conducting regular cleaning inspections, especially in rooms and toilets.
Furthermore, the report highlighted the significant difficulties students face in accessing bathrooms and called for the generalization of bathrooms on each floor, ensuring hot water availability throughout the week, and implementing a system guaranteeing that every student can shower at least twice a week.
At the end of the report, the committee called for the expansion of the university dormitory network across the country’s regions to overcome overcrowding issues. It also urged a review of the criteria for housing allocation, proposing the inclusion of geographical proximity as a key factor in distribution.
The report further recommended simplifying the procedures for dormitory housing access, with a focus on students from low- and middle-income families. It also called for the transparent publication of vacant rooms and lists of beneficiaries on the university dormitories’ websites and notice boards.
Finally, the report emphasized the need to repair and restore deteriorating dormitories, ensuring that the capacity of each room does not exceed two beds and that walls are painted and cracks caused by dampness are fixed.
Source: Fes News Media
