Egypt’s Minister of Education and Technical Education Tarek Shawky announced that the academic year is running smoothly, and that there are no plans to close schools.
Shawky asserted that his ministry is working to ensure the success of this academic year, despite the difficult circumstances imposed by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, local media reported.
He added that all schools have sterilisation tools and face masks available, in addition to a doctor and an isolation room on site. The minister said that the nationwide health insurance system has ensured that all the necessary medical supplies can be found inside the isolation rooms.
Shawky said that the Ministry of Education and Technical Education’s operations room is following up on all developments related to the pandemic on a daily basis. It is also monitoring the educational process to solve any obstacles, and ensure that the education process continues. He said that the ministry has no intention to cancel the academic year.
Earlier, the Ministry of Education and Technical Education adopted many procedures should any coronavirus cases be discovered among students in educational entities. These steps include isolating any student suspected of being infected with the coronavirus. The ministry added that any classroom where a COVID-19 infection has been detected will be closed for 28 days.
If any case is discovered within a classroom, the school should evacuate students from the classroom, with all students also required to wear face masks at all times to curb the spread of the virus.
The affected school’s administration should call the infected student’s parents to come and transfer him to an isolation hospital.
