Rabat, March 24, 2019 – Thousands of teachers flooded the streets of the Moroccan capital on Sunday to demand better conditions after a nighttime protest dispersed by riot police left dozens wounded. Teachers on temporary contracts have been on strike since March 3 demanding permanent employment arrangements that would improve their rights and benefits, especially over retirement. On Saturday night baton-wielding riot police used water cannons to disperse a protest by several thousand young teachers who marched peacefully in central Rabat chanting “freedom, dignity, social justice”. On Sunday morning several thousand teachers were back on the streets of Rabat, chanting slogans such as “we must safeguard free education” and “teaching is not a commodity”. Teachers on temporary contracts enjoy the same salaries as their permanent colleagues — 5,000 dirhams ($520) a month — but unlike them do not have access to a pension fund and other benefits.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 24, 2019 15:22 UTC