Morocco Rocked by Fake Master’s Degree Scandal at Ibn Zohr University
A corruption network selling postgraduate diplomas in exchange for money exposes deep-rooted issues in Morocco’s higher education system, sparking national outrage.
Watan-In a scene reminiscent of the era of “fake certificates of honor,” Morocco has been rocked by an unprecedented scandal shaking the foundations of higher education, after the uncovering of a network selling master’s degrees for money inside Ibn Zohr University in Agadir.
The university, once considered a beacon of knowledge, has reportedly turned into a “black market” where academic qualifications are sold for cash, amid years of official silence dating back to union reports from 2018.
“Degrees for Sale”: Corruption Scandal Shakes Morocco’s Higher Education System
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The Ministry of Higher Education has dispatched an inspection committee, while the public prosecutor opened a formal investigation, and the National Authority for Integrity launched a probe into the network’s background. Meanwhile, the national university professors’ union criticized what it described as the ministry’s “disturbing silence,” despite years of prior warnings.
Public Outrage Grows as Morocco Faces Test of Academic Integrity and Anti-Corruption Resolve
Moroccan public opinion is furious, demanding that the names of all beneficiaries of these “corrupt master’s degrees” be disclosed and their public employment files reviewed—especially those occupying senior state positions.
MP Nabila Mounib called the scandal a serious test of the government’s commitment to fighting corruption, stating, “It’s time to purge universities of the corrupt.”
The scandal has sparked a broader debate in Morocco about university independence, transparency in higher education, and fairness in public sector hiring. The key question remains: will the case end with the prosecution of a few individuals, or will the “Ibn Zohr earthquake” bring down deeper and more powerful networks?
