فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
During the plenary session of the House of Representatives held on Monday, February 10, a heated discussion took place regarding the university housing crisis in Morocco. Members of Parliament highlighted the difficulties students face in securing accommodation in university residences, given the increasing demand and limited capacity.
During the questioning session, an MP directed a question to the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, Azeddine El Medaoui, regarding the criteria for selecting students for university housing, as well as the delays in admitting students at the start of the academic year. The MP also raised concerns about overcrowding in some university dormitories, citing the case of the university residence in the Tetouan province, which was designated exclusively for female students, despite the urgent need for student housing in the area.
In response, Minister El Medaoui acknowledged the challenges students face, emphasizing that university housing is a top priority to ensure proper learning conditions. He explained that the selection process is managed through a unified digital system, based on specific criteria including parental annual income, number of dependents, academic excellence, and special social conditions such as orphans and students with disabilities.
Regarding the limited housing capacity, the minister admitted that current university residences accommodate only 50% of applications received. However, he stressed that the ministry is working on a medium- and long-term strategy to expand university housing availability. This strategy involves public-private partnerships and local authorities’ contributions to fund and construct new dormitories, ultimately aiming to bridge the gap between demand and supply.
Another MP emphasized that the housing crisis remains a major obstacle for students, particularly in high-demand regions such as Souss-Massa and the southeastern provinces. He pointed out that the Agadir university residence serves students from five different regions, making its capacity insufficient to meet the growing demand, especially for students from provinces like Ouarzazate, Zagora, and Tinghir, where many students depend on university housing due to financial constraints.
The MP also criticized the complex application process, particularly regarding the parental income criterion, which excludes many students who are financially struggling. He called for better synchronization between student admission into university residences and the start of the academic year, to avoid delays that negatively impact students’ academic stability.
In search of practical solutions, the MP urged the ministry to accelerate the implementation of the university hub project in Armeil, Ouarzazate, describing it as a hopeful step toward alleviating pressure on existing university dormitories and ensuring decent housing for students, particularly those from remote areas. He also called for a more comprehensive approach to addressing this issue, based on expanding partnerships with the private sector and local authorities to guarantee sustainable solutions.
While MPs acknowledged the efforts made so far, they emphasized that the problem remains unresolved and requires faster and more effective solutions to ensure that students can secure proper housing without resorting to expensive or inadequate alternatives.
source : fesnews media
