The Egyptian Cabinet’s media centre denied, on Saturday, rumours that have been circulating about study suspension at all universities and institutes.
The Centre also denied rumours that first semester exams were to be postponed for two weeks, to be held on 30 January instead.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research asserted that universities and institutes across Egypt will continue providing on-site lectures, with exams taking place at the scheduled dates. This comes despite the second wave of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that is taking place.
The Ministry said that all precautionary measures are being applied at campuses, including sterilisation and social distancing to limit the spread of the coronavirus during exams. It also confirmed that committees are to be formed to monitor the health of students at Egyptian universities.
The committee will also follow up on the readiness of all university hospitals, and ensure that they are supplied with strategic stocks of medicines and medical supplies to counter the pandemic. This is to preserve the health and safety of students and academic staff, according to a statement by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
During a Supreme Council of Universities meeting, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel Ghaffar noted the importance of continuing study at universities according to the hybrid education system approved by the Supreme Council of Universities. Under this system, students will combine online and in-person attendance at their faculties and schools of study, to reduce crowding and prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Abdel Ghaffar directed all university presidents to monitor the readiness of university isolation hospitals, in addition to ensuring the availability of places for isolation of paediatric cases. The minister also instructed for monitoring of the availability of strategic medicine stocks for dealing with the coronavirus, as well as personal protection equipment (PPE) for medical teams and workers at university hospitals.
