CAIRO: More than 389,000 students all over Egypt will sit for the first of the feared thanawiya amma exams today at 9 am.
Despite rumors circulating about a possible postponement due to the rising number of swine flu cases in Egypt, Cabinet spokesperson Magdy Rady said there are no plans to change the exam schedule.
Minister of Education Youssri El-Gamal said that the necessary measures have been taken to ensure that there will not be a repeat of what happened last year, when testimonies by parents and several officials claimed that the year one math exam was leaked and sold in the Upper Egyptian province of Minya.
Ahead of this year’s exams, El-Gamal said examination halls, questions sheets and the model answers are secure, reported the official MENA news agency.
Second year students will sit for their Arabic language exams today.
The final exams of thanawiya amma, Egypt’s national high school certificate, are a source of anxiety for both students and their families. Households are in near lockdown weeks before as students study for the exams, which more or else determine their university majors and, for many, career paths.
