Egypt’s Minister of Education and Technical Education Tarek Shawky cancelled on Wednesday the open-book exam system in the Thanaweya Amma (high school leaving exams).
Shawky said that the bubble sheet exam system will be adopted this year, with multiple-choice questions only. There will be no essay questions as the ministry wants exam grading to be fully electronic, he added.
The minister noted that students will not be allowed to have books, their tablets, or any sheets during exams. Thanaweya Amma exams were postponed for two weeks to 26 June rather than 11 June.
Scores in the competitive nationwide exams determine which university and faculty students can attend, if any. Admission to public universities is divided into four stages, the first of which is reserved for top scoring students seeking admission into what are known as “top faculties.”
Thanaweya Amma exams have been taking place under extraordinary conditions ever since the coronavirus hit the country early 2020. This includes requiring students, exam supervisors and all school staff to follow precautionary measures including wearing facemasks, using sanitisers, and maintaining social distancing.
