2 BAC / BRAIN DRA IN / V O CAB U LA RY FO CU S Mr.

Abdelkarim Foulfoula

Mr. Kilani, there’s been much discussion on the
issue of brain drain in North Africa. In Morocco’s
case, how does the massive departure of educated
and professional youths to developed countries
affect the country’s social progress and economic
prosperity ?
1 2
Well, the country is losing many of its brightest
students, top professors, doctors, scientists,
technicians, engineers, researchers, and other
skilled professionals. In fact, there’s a lot that
must be done to control, at least, this human
capital flight towards destination countries. It’s a
big loss of valuable manpower.

Some experts on the matter insist, however, that
we need to consider the emigration of those
bright minds and qualified professionals as a
rather important asset or add value to our
country’s development. What do you think ?
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That’s true. Brain drain could indeed become
brain gain if these qualified individuals are willing
to return to their motherland and contribute with
whatever talents and fresh experiences they’ve
got to its sustainable development.

So, what main factors push our finest young minds
to leave the country for more favorable
geographic, socio-economic destinations ? And
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how does the government deal with such a serious
issue ?
READ THE INTERVIEW AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.
I think the push factors are many, but the main ones can
be limited down to a search for better education, poverty,
unemployment, low wages, discouraging working
conditions, or simply political or social considerations
including a search for more individual freedoms or
political asylum. To cope with this brain drain issue, the
government is starting to focus on creating more
attractive educational and working environments (or
let’s call them pull factors) to ambitious and aspiring
talents. Also, considering wage increases is an urgent
necessity at this point.

A. FIND IN THE INTERVIEW WORDS OR EXPRESSIONS MEANING THE SAME AS:

emigration brain drain
competent host countries
major causes human resource
big problem home country

B. USE THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS TO GIVE A DEFINITION TO “ brain drain ”:
home countries - the emigration of - living - individuals - students - working - skilled - to search for - better
- workers - qualified - host countries - bright - conditions
Brain drain is ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………….…………..
C. REFER BACK TO THE INTERVIEW TO FINISH THIS CHART :
BRAIN DRAIN
People Involved Push Factors Pull Factors Effects

scientists poverty

D. WHAT SOLUTIONS DOES THE INTERVIEWEE SUGGEST TO FACE THE PROBLEM OF BRAIN DRAIN ?
E. MATCH THE FOLLOWING WORDS/EXPRESSIONS WITH THEIR CORRESPONDING OPPOSITES :
1. source countries …………………….….
- pull factors
2. brain drain …………………….….
- poverty
3. departure …………………….…. - high salaries
4. joblessness ….. employment…… - brain gain F. DISCUSSION :
5. under-developed …………………….…. - employment
- motherland 1. If you get a chance to study or work abroad, will
6. push factors …………………….….
- poor you leave your country ? State your reasons.
7. low wages …………………….….
8. prosperity …………………….…. - developed
2. What could you suggest for your government to
- return
9. host country …………………….…. face the issue of brain drain?
- destination countries
10. rich …………………….….
 researchers low manpower qualified underdeveloped host asylum intellectuals conditions Africa
gain freedoms emigration facilities destination lands

1 . Dr. El Mandjra mentioned that more than 700 Moroccan _____________________at the doctoral level and above work in the French
National Center for Research, as a result of lack of research funds and research ___________________________back home.

2. According to official statistics ____________________________wages and the absence of suitable working _______________ lead to
the________________________ of hundreds of _____________________individuals from Asian countries and
__________________towards Europe and other __________________countries, namely USA and Canada, which means a big loss of
______________________ for the _______________________countries , and a brain ___________________ for destination countries.

3. Because of political and military conflicts in the region, many Iraqi and Syrian scientists and ___________________________ have fled
their mother ______________________. Now some of them are seeking political _______________________ most favorably in European
________________countries where they can enjoy a life of peace more individual __________________________.

researchers low manpower qualified underdeveloped host asylum intellectuals conditions Africa
gain freedoms emigration facilities destination lands

1 . Dr. El Mandjra mentioned that more than 700 Moroccan _____________________at the doctoral level and above work in the French
National Center for Research, as a result of lack of research funds and research ___________________________back home.

2. According to official statistics ____________________________wages and the absence of suitable working _______________ lead to
the________________________ of hundreds of _____________________individuals from Asian countries and
__________________towards Europe and other __________________countries, namely USA and Canada, which means a big loss of
______________________ for the _______________________countries , and a brain ___________________ for destination countries.

3. Because of political and military conflicts in the region, many Iraqi and Syrian scientists and ___________________________ have fled
their mother ______________________. Now some of them are seeking political _______________________ most favorably in European
________________countries where they can enjoy a life of peace more individual __________________________.

researchers low manpower qualified underdeveloped host asylum intellectuals conditions Africa
gain freedoms emigration facilities destination lands

1 . Dr. El Mandjra mentioned that more than 700 Moroccan _____________________at the doctoral level and above work in the French
National Center for Research, as a result of lack of research funds and research ___________________________back home.

2. According to official statistics ____________________________wages and the absence of suitable working _______________ lead to
the________________________ of hundreds of _____________________individuals from Asian countries and
__________________towards Europe and other __________________countries, namely USA and Canada, which means a big loss of
______________________ for the _______________________countries , and a brain ___________________ for destination countries.

3. Because of political and military conflicts in the region, many Iraqi and Syrian scientists and ___________________________ have fled
their mother ______________________. Now some of them are seeking political _______________________ most favorably in European
________________countries where they can enjoy a life of peace more individual __________________________.

researchers low manpower qualified underdeveloped host asylum intellectuals conditions Africa
gain freedoms emigration facilities destination lands

1 . Dr. El Mandjra mentioned that more than 700 Moroccan _____________________at the doctoral level and above work in the French
National Center for Research, as a result of lack of research funds and research ___________________________back home.

2. According to official statistics ____________________________wages and the absence of suitable working _______________ lead to
the________________________ of hundreds of _____________________individuals from Asian countries and
__________________towards Europe and other __________________countries, namely USA and Canada, which means a big loss of
______________________ for the _______________________countries, and a brain ___________________ for destination countries.

4. Because of political and military conflicts in the region, many Iraqi and Syrian scientists and ___________________________ have
become refugees. Now some of them are seeking political _________________ most favorably in European ________________countries
where they can enjoy a life of peace more individual __________________________.