Madar (Nouakchott) - Fourteen Mauritanian student associations and unions abroad have called for a review of this year's scholarship award procedures and for the publication of beneficiary lists and selection criteria, citing what they described as suspicions and irregularities undermining the principles of merit and equal opportunity.
In a joint statement, the organisations called for the official ranking of candidates to be published, for complaints and appeals to be allowed, and for redress for those who consider themselves wronged by the selection results.
They also demanded a reversal of the suspension of national grants for students abroad, guaranteed access to scholarships for doctoral students under clear criteria, and faster enrolment procedures for students assigned to Algerian universities, warning that they risk losing their academic year because of delays in completing their files.
In the same context, the organisations welcomed the creation in Mauritania of the "Student Front for the Defence of Rights and Gains", saying that uniting union efforts strengthens student demands.
