Ukrainian universities to resume classes online, as debate rages in Morocco over integrating students escaping Ukrainian war

Several Ukrainian medicine faculties have announced that classes will continue online on April 3, promising as well that students will have in-person classes next year, Moroccan students were informed early this week. 

Through a series of emails, the announcement by Ukrainian universities alleviated growing concerns that haunted numerous Moroccan medicine students regarding their academic future since their escape from the war-torn country in March.

"I am happy to be back to university even if just online. My friends in Kyiv have already started online classes earlier this month," Oumaima, a Moroccan sophomore in the medical faculty of Kharkiv, told The New Arab.

In its announcement, Ukraine's Kharkiv university called on governments worldwide to allow students to pursue medical training in their national hospitals, stressing the importance of training for future doctors. The Ukrainian university also noted that exams will be postponed until next year.

The Moroccan kingdom's ministry of higher education has previously promised Moroccan students coming from Ukraine integration into the country's medicine faculties - a move that was harshly objected to by the National Commission of Medical Students in Morocco.

"Moroccan medicine faculties are short-staffed and suffer from a severe lack of materials. Integrating hundreds of students will distribute our learning process," the commission told The New Arab.

In a press release, the commission further argued that the integration of new students will negatively affect those already enrolled.

"We would like to point out that (...) the quality of theoretical and practical medical training represented in training centres that witness unparalleled overcrowding are red lines that should not be violated under any pretext," the commission's press release stated.

The commission also added it hopes that this crisis will be resolved with a solution that does not impact current students.

On its part, the Moroccan Association of Graduates of Soviet Universities and Institutes condemned the commission's press release.

"The position of the National Committee for Students of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy in Morocco of rejecting the integration of students returning from Ukraine because of the war is unjustified and inhumane,” the Association told The New Arab.

The association also said it is in contact with the ministry of higher education to resolve the crisis.

As of yet, the ministry has not officially reacted to the debate.

More than 8,000 Moroccan students were enrolled at Ukrainian universities. 

Ukraine was the last resort for thousands of students who failed to enrol at medicine faculties in Morocco due to strict criteria for entry, such as a pre-selection process based on high school grades and an entrance exam that many students find relatively difficult to pass.