The French System

Moulay Ismail University operates under the French system, which, if you are like I was, doesn't have much meaning. After seeing the school in action, however, I'm starting to get how things work. Anyone who graduates from secondary school can enter Universtiy, but it is not guaranteed that they will be able to enter into their desired field of study. Space limitations and competitive exams limit the number of students allowed in certain fields. Then, once school begins, classrooms remain empty for the most part as students only show up for their exams.

School for us foreign students started almost immediately after we arrived in Morocco. The Moroccan Students began their classes about a week or two ago, and by beginning classes, I mean that students were on campus, but that doesn't mean that their professors were. There is a complex system of signing up for classes and getting approved for the classes you wish to take, so no one is ever really sure about when classes will actually begin. When we would ask, the professors would shrug and say, "sometime around October." Then, once one has finally obtained the schedule one would like, and classes start, other issues keep seeming to erupt. Almost everyday there is some sort of demonstration in front of the administration building. Students gather in a circle and chorus some catchy arabic protest. Most of the time it is just a small group, with people joining and others breaking off on a semi-regular basis.

Yesterday, I had class at 4pm, and when I walked in the gate, I instantly saw and heard a much larger group of students outside of the administration building. Naturally, I was curious, but I sidled past the group shyly and headed to my class, like the good American student that I am...
I learned later from a professor, as the students marched through campus singing their protest, that they were upset over the--how should I put it--Americanization of the University. Apparantly, the University has grown weary of the subpar attendance rate, and hence, high failure rate. Their solution was, therefore, to institute attendance policies in the classroom, much to the student's chagrin.

The whole thing seemed kind of odd to me. You work incredibly hard to get into your University program. Then you have to jump through all kinds of hoops to get all the classes you need and have your schedule approved. Then, after all that, you show up to campus only to protest having to go to class? Well, I guess that pretty much sums up the French system.