فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Rabat, Morocco – The Moroccan Consumer Protection Observatory has issued a strongly worded statement, condemning what it described as “illegal practices” by some private schools that are turning educational institutions into “commercial outlets.” The observatory warned against these schools exploiting families by forcing them to buy books and supplies from specific sources and imposing “exorbitant” and non-transparent insurance fees.
Illegal Practices and Violation of Legal References
The statement clarified that these practices are a blatant violation of Moroccan laws, citing:
- Law 31.08: which prohibits unfair commercial practices and guarantees the consumer’s right to accurate information.
- Law 104.12: which criminalizes monopoly and forced tie-ins and ensures freedom of choice and competition.
- Ministry of National Education communiqués: which prohibit selling books inside schools or coercing families to purchase from specific libraries.
Directives for Parents’ Associations and Urgent Demands to Authorities
In its statement, signed by its president, Professor Hassan Ait Ali, the observatory called on parent-teacher associations to take immediate steps, including:
- Refusing forced purchases from the institution.
- Demanding detailed invoices and clear insurance contracts.
- Reporting any violations to the regional directorates of the Ministry of National Education, the Competition Council, and the Insurance and Social Protection Supervisory Authority (ACAPS).
In the same context, the observatory addressed urgent demands to the competent authorities, calling for a ministerial memo with strict penalties for violators, the launch of joint inspection campaigns, and the establishment of a “hotline” for reporting violations. It also demanded freeing the school book market to ensure families’ freedom to purchase them from any library.
The observatory concluded its statement by affirming that “the school is an educational space, not a shop for profit,” and announced its intention to support families in reporting, advocacy, and litigation to ensure the school year begins in a legal, fair, and transparent manner.
