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Moroccan graduates face bleak prospects | Moroccan graduates face bleak prospects |
(about 9 hours later) | |
By James Copnall BBC News, Rabat | By James Copnall BBC News, Rabat |
Morocco has an unusual problem - the more educated you are, the harder it seems to be to get a job. | Morocco has an unusual problem - the more educated you are, the harder it seems to be to get a job. |
The overall unemployment rate is officially less than 10% - but the rate for graduates soars above this, and has sometimes been double. | The overall unemployment rate is officially less than 10% - but the rate for graduates soars above this, and has sometimes been double. |
Every day frustrated and highly educated young people gather outside parliament in the capital Rabat to shout out their frustration. | Every day frustrated and highly educated young people gather outside parliament in the capital Rabat to shout out their frustration. |
"I'm 35, I have a PhD in physics, and I can't get a job," complains Ali. | |
"I'm very old, I'm not married, I don't have my own house, I don't have anything. | "I'm very old, I'm not married, I don't have my own house, I don't have anything. |
"I'm thinking of leaving this country, because here I am nothing." | "I'm thinking of leaving this country, because here I am nothing." |
Entrepreneurs | Entrepreneurs |
Sometimes the protestors are chased away by riot police wielding truncheons. | Sometimes the protestors are chased away by riot police wielding truncheons. |
The government is worried about the problem, and has set up a number of schemes to help graduates to find work. Life in Morocco is very hard. There is no light here, no light Ali, physics graduate | The government is worried about the problem, and has set up a number of schemes to help graduates to find work. Life in Morocco is very hard. There is no light here, no light Ali, physics graduate |
One of them, known as moukawalati, aims to give government-backed loans to budding young entrepreneurs. | One of them, known as moukawalati, aims to give government-backed loans to budding young entrepreneurs. |
There are success stories. | There are success stories. |
Merieme, a 25-year-old woman, is the owner of a printing business. | Merieme, a 25-year-old woman, is the owner of a printing business. |
Several gleaming new machines hum in the background as she explains how the scheme helped her to develop her business plan and convinced the bank to lend her money. | Several gleaming new machines hum in the background as she explains how the scheme helped her to develop her business plan and convinced the bank to lend her money. |
But Merieme's experience is far from universal. | But Merieme's experience is far from universal. |
Initially the target was to help 30,000 business people, and create 90,000 jobs. | Initially the target was to help 30,000 business people, and create 90,000 jobs. |
Yet so far only 1,400 loans have been given out, and the government has had to scale back its targets. | Yet so far only 1,400 loans have been given out, and the government has had to scale back its targets. |
Mistakes | Mistakes |
The head of the state body that runs the scheme, Kamal Hafid, admitted to the BBC mistakes had been made. | The head of the state body that runs the scheme, Kamal Hafid, admitted to the BBC mistakes had been made. |
But he said one of the main problems - with consequences stretching far beyond moukawalati - is that Morocco's school system is out of sync with today's job market. Kamal Hafid says Morocco's schools are out of sync with the job market | But he said one of the main problems - with consequences stretching far beyond moukawalati - is that Morocco's school system is out of sync with today's job market. Kamal Hafid says Morocco's schools are out of sync with the job market |
"The educational system must get better - that's obvious to everyone today," he said. | "The educational system must get better - that's obvious to everyone today," he said. |
"But it will take time, there is a lot of work to be done. | "But it will take time, there is a lot of work to be done. |
"And we need to develop entrepreneurial spirit here in Morocco too." | "And we need to develop entrepreneurial spirit here in Morocco too." |
Many of the unemployed graduates marching up and down outside parliament have turned down work in the private sector. | Many of the unemployed graduates marching up and down outside parliament have turned down work in the private sector. |
They want the security of a state job. | They want the security of a state job. |
But as Mr Hafid points out, the state can only hope to create 15,000 new jobs a year, while in good times the private sector can produce up to 300,000. | But as Mr Hafid points out, the state can only hope to create 15,000 new jobs a year, while in good times the private sector can produce up to 300,000. |
Illegal migration | Illegal migration |
Nevertheless, the private sector often feels Moroccan graduates are poorly suited to the modern economy. | Nevertheless, the private sector often feels Moroccan graduates are poorly suited to the modern economy. |
There are fears too about how the international financial crisis may affect Morocco. There is a serious concern that young people here are an easy prey for extremists Professor Lahcen Haddad | There are fears too about how the international financial crisis may affect Morocco. There is a serious concern that young people here are an easy prey for extremists Professor Lahcen Haddad |
All this is having serious effects. | All this is having serious effects. |
"There is a concern about illegal migration among young people, and about drugs," says university professor Lahcen Haddad. | "There is a concern about illegal migration among young people, and about drugs," says university professor Lahcen Haddad. |
"There is also a very serious concern about a lot of people being easy prey for extremists." | "There is also a very serious concern about a lot of people being easy prey for extremists." |
In 2003 11 young men blew themselves up in the economic capital Casablanca, killing themselves and 34 others. | In 2003 11 young men blew themselves up in the economic capital Casablanca, killing themselves and 34 others. |
Moroccans were also among those who carried out the Madrid bombings, and hundreds have fought in Iraq. | Moroccans were also among those who carried out the Madrid bombings, and hundreds have fought in Iraq. |
Typically these people have less formal education than the graduates demonstrating outside parliament. | Typically these people have less formal education than the graduates demonstrating outside parliament. |
Double-edged sword | Double-edged sword |
Roughly half of Moroccans are illiterate - a shocking state of affairs in a country that is one of the most developed in Africa. | Roughly half of Moroccans are illiterate - a shocking state of affairs in a country that is one of the most developed in Africa. |
Morocco has a demographic problem too. It is estimated that more than a quarter of a million young people will come onto the job market every year - and there is little chance all of them will find work. | Morocco has a demographic problem too. It is estimated that more than a quarter of a million young people will come onto the job market every year - and there is little chance all of them will find work. |
"It is a double-edged sword," according to Mr Haddad. Ali, 35, has a PhD in physics yet can't get a job | "It is a double-edged sword," according to Mr Haddad. Ali, 35, has a PhD in physics yet can't get a job |
"Either Morocco can tap into that, use it as an opportunity and then the Moroccan economy will take off, because you are using that human capital to be more productive. | "Either Morocco can tap into that, use it as an opportunity and then the Moroccan economy will take off, because you are using that human capital to be more productive. |
"Or it can be socially very costly, because here you have all these people of working age, but many of them are unemployed, with all the social consequences this brings." | "Or it can be socially very costly, because here you have all these people of working age, but many of them are unemployed, with all the social consequences this brings." |
The government is certainly aware of the potential risks, and says it is doing all it can. | The government is certainly aware of the potential risks, and says it is doing all it can. |
But the unemployed graduates protesting outside parliament see this as just one more empty promise. | But the unemployed graduates protesting outside parliament see this as just one more empty promise. |
"I'm a pessimist now," says Ali. | "I'm a pessimist now," says Ali. |
"Life in Morocco is very hard. There is no light here, no light." | "Life in Morocco is very hard. There is no light here, no light." |
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