Egyptian education comes at the forefront of the sectors which witnessed a high wave of rumours during 2018, according to an infographic issued by the Egyptian cabinet on Tuesday.
The infographic showed that the education sector faced rumours by 21.5%, followed by the supply sector by 17%, and the economy sector by 15.3%.
It showed that the health sector ranked fourth by 12.7%; the social solidarity sector by 6.2%; the tourism and antiquities sector by 5.9%; the administrative sector reform by 5.7%, and the housing sector by 5.4%, while the fuel and energy sector ranked ninth with 4.8%; followed by the transport and communications sector with 3.2%, and finally the other sectors occupied 2.3%.
As for the months which witnessed the largest numbers of rumours during 2018, the information pointed out that August ranks the first with 13%; followed by September by 12.7%; December by 12%, with November in fourth place with 11.9%.
During the past two years, a huge wave of criticism appeared on the social media platforms due to the price hikes of fuel, electricity, and transport which came along the recent economic reforms that were sponsored by the International Monetary Fund, causing many Egyptians to suffer from economic hardships. This wave was troublesome to the state, as it was believed that this could decrease people’s support for the state’s economic reform project, and their endorsements until it is accomplished.
President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi previously said during a televised speech that Egypt has encountered 21,000 rumours in only three months, aimed to create confusion and instability, adding that the real threat the country is facing is being undermined from within, as he said “the pressure, the rumours, the terrorist acts, the hopelessness, and discontentment.”
Following the statements of the president, several MPs have repeated their calls for a legislation which will be concerned with putting limits for rumours on social media.
