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Mada
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Mada
Govt amendments to education law approved as critics warn changes could worsen inequality
Greenlighting major changes to the government school system, the House of Representatives gave final approval on June 8 to a set of amendments to the education law, prompting a renewed wave of criticism and objections from several MPs and rights organizations. Critics have repeatedly flagged the amendments as a gateway to worsening existing inequalities in the system. The revisions 'perpetuate inequality and class discrimination as well as increase the burden on families,' the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights stated. Outlined below are some of the key issues critics and lawmakers opposed to the newly amended law have raised in recent days Roll out of new Egyptian baccalaureate without addressing core issues When Education Minister Mohamed Abdel Lateef first introduced the concept of the new Egyptian baccalaureate, his plan for the secondary education curriculum as an alternative to the thanaweya amma, it was met with concerns. The change, critics argued, would not tackle the core issues that have made learning difficult for children in Egypt's education system for years, such as classroom overcrowding, a shortage of teachers and underfunding. The amendments approved on Tuesday include the replacement of the current system with the Egyptian baccalaureate, prompting the same concerns to resurface, with representatives from the Egyptian Democratic Party, the Wafd Party and the Justice Party citing them when they rejected the law in Monday's session. The persistent issues of class overcrowding and chronic lack of teachers would make it impossible to implement the new curriculum, they said. Head of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party's parliamentary bloc, Ehab Mansour, said that 'the available data on the number of teacher shortages and the need for teachers,' as well as the government's 'usual lack of thorough studies' would hamper the new curriculum's success.' Voicing similar concerns, Wafd Party representative Hany Abaza said that the project is not feasible and implementation will be problematic. 'How can the government implement it with these capabilities?' In response, Abdel Lateef argued that 90 percent of public schools are ready to implement the new system, which he described as an 'unprecedented step.' Playing down the infrastructural and staffing issues in Monday's plenary session, the minister said that '[public] schools have been ready for five years, and the problem with secondary schools was student absence.' 'We were able to bring back first-year and second-year secondary students, and with the implementation of the new system, we will bring back third-year secondary students, and of course, God willing, we are ready.' Curriculum changes would compound existing teacher shortage Among the curriculum changes that generated the most pushback were article 6, which will require students to pass high school exams in Arabic and religious education, with the latter requiring students to achieve 70 percent in examinations in order to pass. Deputy coordinator of the Youth Parties Coalition, MP Amira al-Adly, said that a minimum pass grade of 70 percent would be unattainable for many students, adding that she had reviewed other national curricula and had found no evidence of pass grades being set so high elsewhere. Teacher shortages would make it even harder for children to succeed in these subjects, according to the lawmakers and EIPR, both of whom argued that with the existing make-up of the school system, the change will entrench sectarian division between Muslims and Christians. The need to teach religious studies is already compounding staffing shortages, EIPR said, citing a complaint from the Qalyubia governorate that Arabic language teachers are often forced to exceed legal quotas on the number of classes they teach without pay, 'as they receive no payment for the religious education class they give.' Many schools employ teachers on a per-class basis to cover gaps in their permanent staff, using quotas to determine the number of classes these teachers give. Schools often stipulate that teachers must provide a number of 'voluntary' classes. Mansour echoed EIPR's concern: 'Who will teach this subject? We were told that a number of teachers would be appointed to teach religion, and we have been waiting for years for 30,000 to be appointed. Where are the teachers? Where will they be based? Where is the budget for this amendment? Did it enter the budget? Where are the numbers?' MP Mohamed Abdel Aziz, meanwhile, linked the teacher shortage to sectarian disparity in the curriculum. The government has not responded to demands for more teachers to be hired for Christian religious education, he said, meaning that there is 'neither enough teachers nor government capacity, and the government will fail to implement this commitment.' EIPR also expressed concerns on the article's amendments, describing teaching methods as 'a blatant example of discrimination and sectarian segregation,' which it said are in violation of Article 19 of the Constitution that stipulates the establishment of concepts of citizenship, tolerance and non-discrimination. Schools do not have teachers for Christian religious education at all, the rights organization said, adding that Christian students were forced on multiple occasions to take their classes in the schoolyard, which is not prepared for teaching, 'under the pretext that alternative places were lacking.' Adly noted further that very few countries require religious studies to comprise a compulsory part of secondary education, naming Iran and Sudan as examples. Commenting on the objections, the education minister said that the goal was to convey the message that religion is more important than any other subject. Regarding the number of teachers, he said that it is estimated at 843,000. 'We had a shortage of 496,000 teachers last year. Currently, there is no class in a core subject that lacks a teacher in Egypt. We are hiring, and we have a plan to hire more than 100,000 teachers because a large percentage will retire,' he said. Unequal access to education Critics also pointed to changes in the law which they said will retrench the already major gap in access to education based on family income. They pointed in particular to article 9, which grants the education minister full authority to establish experimental schools or specialized programs within public schools, as well as to authorize their implementation in private schools. The legal amendment presents the alternative schools or programs as a space to experiment with new educational initiatives in preparation for their broader implementation. But EIPR argued that the new alternative programs will only reinforce inequality by deepening the already existing difference of quality in educational services, and will therefore also increase the disparity of access among students in different programs. There are already several alternative programs to the public education system, such as French, English and private school systems, EIPR said, which represent an already major disparity in educational quality and access. Other critics also singled out article 24 as potentially worsening students' access to quality education. The amendment raises the rate of fees for exam retakes for secondary students to range between LE200 and LE2,000. The article grants the education minister the authority to specify not only the fee amount, but also the grades and subjects that can be retaken, the number of retakes permitted — at least once per grade and twice per educational stage — and the exam dates. MPs as well as EIPR argued that the increased exam retake fee, previously set between LE10 and LE20 in the 1981 law, will likewise widen the inequality gap by excluding students who cannot afford the costs from educational opportunities, undermining equal opportunity and fair competition among students. Abdel Aziz, among others, recommended changes to the provision to restrict the minister's authority, but the recommendations were sidelined during the discussions. The fee increase 'could hinder many families who cannot afford the fee, and limit students' ability to retake the exam,' he said. In response to the objections, Fawzy argued that the monetary values set in the 1981 law are now outdated, but attempted to appease MPs with regards to the government's intentions, stressing that 'the stated meaning is that we should not re-amend the law in a short period of time.' 'No matter how high the fee is, does it generate real revenue for the state? No,' he said, arguing that it does, however, set 'a minimum threshold for seriousness and encourages the student to succeed on the first attempt.' But the changes increase the financial barrier to learning, according to Planning and Budget Committee secretary, Abdel Moneim Imam, who said that, 'education in Egypt has shifted from being a constitutional right to a commodity.' 'What does the Egyptian citizen even get from you? ' he asked government representatives. 'They pay for everything — petrol, gas, electricity.' He continued: 'Is this the same country that once educated the Greeks and the world, only to now become a place where a dancer can rise to fame while the country's educated minds leave and gain recognition abroad?'
Mada
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Mada
Six Egyptians arrested from homes as prosecution investigates support for Global March to Gaza
In the latest show of force against popular displays of solidarity with Gaza, the Supreme State Security Prosecution has ordered for six Egyptians to be detained for 15 days after they were questioned over their support for the Global March to Gaza. The decision was made despite the lack of evidence that the accused committed any crime, according to a Wednesday statement from the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), which is providing legal defense to some of the detainees. The six people were arrested in mid June, at the same time as authorities cracked down on foreign nationals who were entering Egypt to join the Global March to Gaza, a popular initiative for international volunteers to come to Egypt and travel en masse to the border with the Gaza Strip to break Israel's siege on Palestinians there. Authorities arrested the six people from their homes, EIPR lawyer Lobna Darwish told Mada Masr. EIPR said the six accused were forcibly disappeared before appearing a few days later at the State Prosecution, which accused them of the standard charges leveled at those arrested for political expression: joining a terrorist organization and publishing false news. During interrogations, the six were questioned about joining a private group on a social media platform which included discussions about joining the Sumud convoy, a separate but parallel initiative to the Gaza march that aimed for 1,000 people to travel by land across North Africa toward Egypt also aiming to break the Israeli siege. Authorities interrogated them about the convoy itself, its aims and who was behind it. In response, the six defendants stressed that they did not join the convoy since it did not receive the required security approvals from the Egyptian authorities, stressing that they have acted in compliance with Egyptian law, committing no crime. The Sumud Convoy suspended its operations in mid-July following days of intimidation, including the arrests of several participants by eastern Libyan authorities. Egyptian authorities did not grant approval for the convoy to cross the border. Organizers of the Global March to Gaza also called off the procession, after clashes with authorities who conducted arrests targeting participants. During the detention renewal session this week, the prosecution dismissed a complaint appealing the ongoing imprisonment of one of the defendants, who is 67 years old and suffering from several health conditions including hypertension and diabetes, said EIPR. It also turned a blind eye to the lawyers' arguments regarding the lack of evidence proving the accusations against the six. In its statement, EIPR, which appointed lawyers for several of the accused Egyptians, called for the immediate release of all those arbitrarily detained for displaying solidarity with Gazans, adding that any display of solidarity or condemnation of Israeli crimes 'should be in line with Egypt's officially stated position on Palestine.'
Indian Express
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Activists stopped in Libya and Egypt ahead of planned march on Gaza
Egyptian authorities detained more activists planning to march to Gaza in protest of restrictions on aid reaching the territory, while security forces in eastern Libya blocked a convoy of activists en route to meet them. Demonstrators from 80 countries planned to march to Egypt's border with Gaza to spotlight the deepening humanitarian crises facing Palestinians since Israel began blocking aid trucks from entering the coastal enclave in March. Israel slightly eased restrictions last month, allowing limited aid in, but experts warn the measures fall far short. The Global March on Gaza was slated to be among the largest demonstrations of its kind in recent years, coinciding with other efforts including a boat carrying activists and aid that was intercepted by Israel's military while on its way to Gaza earlier this week. Organisers on Friday said authorities confiscated the passports of 40 activists at what they called a 'toll both-turned-checkpoint' being patrolled by riot gear-clad officers and armored vehicles. They said security forces had begun detaining and using force to remove activists from the area and suppress protests. 'If individuals are forcibly taken to the airport for deportation under false pretenses, participants are prepared to … initiate a hunger strike,' organisers said. The group's spokespeople urged officials from the activists' home countries to push Egypt to release their citizens. Egypt's Foreign Ministry didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. Friday's detentions come after hundreds arriving in Cairo were earlier detained and deported to their home countries in Europe and North Africa. Before authorities confiscated their passports, the activists said they planned to gather at a campsite on the road to the Sinai to prepare for Sunday's march. They said authorities had not yet granted them authorization to travel through the Sinai, which Egypt considers a highly sensitive area. 'We continue to urge the Egyptian government to permit this peaceful march, which aligns with Egypt's own stated commitment to restoring stability at its border and addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza,' the activists said in a statement. As activists stuck at the Ismailia checkpoint languished in the heat, Hicham El-Ghaoui, one of the group's spokespeople, said they would refrain from demonstrating until receiving clarity on whether Egypt will authorize their protest. The planned demonstrations cast an uncomfortable spotlight on Egypt, one of the Arab countries that has cracked down on pro-Palestinian activists even as it publicly condemns aid restrictions and calls for an end to the war. The government, a major recipient of US military aid that maintains ties with Israel, has arrested and charged 186 activists with threatening state security since the war began, according to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. Many of them said they were protesting peacefully and collecting donations for Gaza. Still, the severity of the crackdown surprised European activists. Antonietta Chiodo, who traveled to Cairo from Italy, said those awaiting further instruction had been detained, interrogated, treated harshly by Egyptian authorities or deported. Alexis Deswaef, a Belgian human rights lawyer, said he woke up on Friday to dozens of security vehicles packed with uniformed officers surrounding Talat Harb Square, where he and other activists had found hotels. Members of his group snuck out of the lobby as security entered, asking an officer for assistance booking taxis to the pyramids of Giza, where they've been since. 'I am so surprised to see the Egyptians doing the dirty work of Israel,' he said from the pyramids. He hoped there would be too many activists at the new meeting point outside Cairo for Egyptian authorities to arrest en masse. Meanwhile, an aid convoy traveling overland from Algeria picked up new participants along the route in Tunisia and Libya but was stopped in the city of Sirte, about 940 kilometers (585 miles) from the Libya-Egypt border. Organisers of the overland convoy said late Thursday night they had been stopped by authorities governing eastern Libya, which has for years been divided between dueling factions. The convoy was allowed to cross from Tunisia to Libya but was halted near the front line. The Benghazi-based government urged activists to 'engage in proper coordination with the official Libyan authorities through legal and diplomatic channels to ensure the safety of all participants and uphold the principles of solidarity with the Palestinian people.' It said they should return to their home countries and cited Egypt's public statements that marchers had not been granted authorisation. Organisers leading the overland convoy said authorities had allowed them to camp in Sirte and await further approval. Their group, which includes thousands of participants, had already traversed parts of Algeria, Tunisia and the western Libyan cities of Tripoli and Misrata. Jawaher Shana, one of the convoy's organisers, said it would eventually continue. 'We didn't cross 2,000 kilometers all for nothing!' she yelled to a crowd at Sirte Gate, referencing the length of the Mediterranean coastline the convoy had travelled. The efforts — the activist flotilla, the overland convoy and the planned march — come as international outcry grows over conditions in Gaza. Israel has continued to pummel the territory with airstrikes while limiting the flow of trucks carrying food, water and medication that can enter. The UN has said the vast majority of the population relies on humanitarian aid to survive and experts have warned the coastal enclave will likely fall into famine if Israel doesn't lift its blockade and stop its military campaign. Over UN objections, a US-backed group has taken control of the limited aid entering Gaza. But as desperate Palestinians crowd its distribution sites, chaos has erupted and almost 200 people have been killed near aid sites. Nearly half a million Palestinians are on the brink of possible starvation, and 1 million others can barely get enough food, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a leading international authority. Israel has rejected the findings, saying the IPC's previous forecasts had proven unfounded.
Boston Globe
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Activists stopped in Libya and Egypt ahead of planned march on Gaza
Advertisement Activists detained in Egypt Organizers on Friday said authorities confiscated the passports of 40 activists at what they called a 'toll both-turned-checkpoint' being patrolled by riot gear-clad officers and armored vehicles. They said security forces had begun detaining and using force to remove activists from the area and suppress protests. 'If individuals are forcibly taken to the airport for deportation under false pretenses, participants are prepared to ... initiate a hunger strike,' organizers said. The group's spokespeople urged officials from the activists' home countries to push Egypt to release their citizens. Egypt's Foreign Ministry didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. Friday's detentions come after hundreds arriving in Cairo were earlier detained and deported to their home countries in Europe and North Africa. Before authorities confiscated their passports, the activists said they planned to gather at a campsite on the road to the Sinai to prepare for Sunday's march. They said authorities had not yet granted them authorization to travel through the Sinai, which Egypt considers a highly sensitive area. Advertisement 'We continue to urge the Egyptian government to permit this peaceful march, which aligns with Egypt's own stated commitment to restoring stability at its border and addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza,' the activists said in a statement. As activists stuck at the Ismailia checkpoint languished in the heat, Hicham El-Ghaoui, one of the group's spokespeople, said they would refrain from demonstrating until receiving clarity on whether Egypt will authorize their protest. The planned demonstrations cast an uncomfortable spotlight on Egypt, one of the Arab countries that has cracked down on pro-Palestinian activists even as it publicly condemns aid restrictions and calls for an end to the war. The government, a major recipient of U.S. military aid that maintains ties with Israel, has arrested and charged 186 activists with threatening state security since the war began, according to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. Many of them said they were protesting peacefully and collecting donations for Gaza. Still, the severity of the crackdown surprised European activists. Antonietta Chiodo, who traveled to Cairo from Italy, said those awaiting further instruction had been detained, interrogated, treated harshly by Egyptian authorities or deported. Libyans wave flags as they greet activists heading towards Gaza by land with the aim of breaking the siege on the Palestinian territory, in Tripoli's Martyrs Square on June 11, 2025. MAHMUD TURKIA/AFP via Getty Images Alexis Deswaef, a Belgian human rights lawyer, said he woke up on Friday to dozens of security vehicles packed with uniformed officers surrounding Talat Harb Square, where he and other activists had found hotels. Members of his group snuck out of the lobby as security entered, asking an officer for assistance booking taxis to the pyramids of Giza, where they've been since. Advertisement 'I am so surprised to see the Egyptians doing the dirty work of Israel,' he said from the pyramids. He hoped there would be too many activists at the new meeting point outside Cairo for Egyptian authorities to arrest en masse. In a divided Libya, Egypt-backed authorities stop a convoy Meanwhile, an aid convoy traveling overland from Algeria picked up new participants along the route in Tunisia and Libya but was stopped in the city of Sirte, about 940 kilometers (585 miles) from the Libya-Egypt border. Organizers of the overland convoy said late Thursday night they had been stopped by authorities governing eastern Libya, which has for years been divided between dueling factions. The convoy was allowed to cross from Tunisia to Libya but was halted near the front line. The Benghazi-based government urged activists to 'engage in proper coordination with the official Libyan authorities through legal and diplomatic channels to ensure the safety of all participants and uphold the principles of solidarity with the Palestinian people.' It said they should return to their home countries and cited Egypt's public statements that marchers had not been granted authorization. Organizers leading the overland convoy said authorities had allowed them to camp in Sirte and await further approval. Their group, which includes thousands of participants, had already traversed parts of Algeria, Tunisia and the western Libyan cities of Tripoli and Misrata. Jawaher Shana, one of the convoy's organizers, said it would eventually continue. 'We didn't cross 2,000 kilometers all for nothing!' she yelled to a crowd at Sirte Gate, referencing the length of the Mediterranean coastline the convoy had travelled. The efforts — the activist flotilla, the overland convoy and the planned march — come as international outcry grows over conditions in Gaza. Advertisement Israel has continued to pummel the territory with airstrikes while limiting the flow of trucks carrying food, water and medication that can enter. The U.N. has said the vast majority of the population relies on humanitarian aid to survive and experts have warned the coastal enclave will likely fall into famine if Israel doesn't lift its blockade and stop its military campaign. Over U.N. objections, a U.S.-backed group has taken control of the limited aid entering Gaza. But as desperate Palestinians crowd its distribution sites, chaos has erupted and almost 200 people have been killed near aid sites. Nearly half a million Palestinians are on the brink of possible starvation, and 1 million others can barely get enough food, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a leading international authority. Israel has rejected the findings, saying the IPC's previous forecasts had proven unfounded. McNeil reported from Barcelona. Associated Press journalist Youssef Murad in Tripoli, Libya, contributed to this report.
Hamilton Spectator
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Activists stopped in Libya and Egypt ahead of planned march on Gaza
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Egyptian authorities detained additional activists planning to march to Gaza in protest of restrictions on aid reaching the territory while security forces in eastern Libya blocked a convoy of activists en route to meet them. Demonstrators from 80 countries planned to march to Egypt's border with Gaza to spotlight the deepening humanitarian crises facing Palestinians since Israel began blocking aid trucks from entering the coastal enclave in March. It slightly eased restrictions last month, allowing limited aid in, but experts warn the measures fall far short. The Global March on Gaza was slated to be among the largest demonstrations of its kind in recent years, coinciding with other efforts including a boat carrying activists and aid that was intercepted by Israel's military en route to Gaza earlier this week. Activists detained in Egypt Organizers on Friday said authorities confiscated passports of 40 people planning to march at a checkpoint outside Cairo, where they're being held in the heat. Others are being detained at hotels. They urged officials from the activists' home countries to push Egypt to release their citizens. Friday's detentions come after hundreds arriving in Cairo were earlier detained and deported to their home countries in Europe and North Africa. Before authorities confiscated their passports, the activists said they planned to gather at a campsite on the road to the Sinai to prepare for Sunday's march. They said authorities had not yet granted them authorization to travel through the Sinai, which Egypt considers a highly sensitive area. 'We continue to urge the Egyptian government to permit this peaceful march, which aligns with Egypt's own stated commitment to restoring stability at its border and addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza,' the activists said in a statement. Hicham El-Ghaoui, one of the group's spokespeople, said they would refrain from demonstrating until receiving clarity on whether Egypt will authorize their protest. The planned demonstrations cast an uncomfortable spotlight on Egypt, one of the Arab countries that has cracked down on pro-Palestinian activists even as it publicly condemns aid restrictions and calls for an end to the war. The government, a major recipient of U.S. military aid that maintains ties with Israel, has arrested and charged 186 activists with threatening state security since the war began, according to a June tally by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. Many of them said they were protesting peacefully and collecting donations for Gaza. Still, the severity of the crackdown surprised European activists. Antonietta Chiodo, who traveled to Cairo from Italy, said those awaiting further instruction had been detained, interrogated, treated harshly by Egyptian authorities or deported. Alexis Deswaef, a Belgian human rights lawyer, said he woke up on Friday to dozens of security vehicles packed with uniformed officers surrounding Talat Harb Square, where he and other activists had found hotels. Members of his group snuck out of the lobby as security entered, holding up a guidebook and asking an officer for assistance booking taxis to the Pyramids of Giza, where they've been since. 'I am so surprised to see the Egyptians doing the dirty work of Israel,' he said from the Pyramids. He hoped there would be too many activists at the new meeting point outside Cairo for Egyptian authorities to arrest en masse. In a divided Libya, Egypt-backed authorities stop a convoy Meanwhile, an aid convoy traveling overland from Algeria picked up new participants along the route in Tunisia and Libya yet was stopped in the city of Sirte, about 940 kilometers (585 miles) from the Libya-Egypt border. Organizers of the overland convoy said late Thursday night that they had been stopped by authorities governing eastern Libya, which has for years been divided between dueling factions . The convoy was allowed to cross from Tunisia to Libya but halted near the front line where territory shifts to a rival administration whose backers include Egypt. The Benghazi-based government in a statement urged activists to 'engage in proper coordination with the official Libyan authorities through legal and diplomatic channels to ensure the safety of all participants and uphold the principles of solidarity with the Palestinian people.' It said they should return to their home countries and cited Egypt's public statements that marchers had not been granted authorization. Organizers leading the overland convoy said authorities had allowed them to camp in Sirte and await further approval. Their group, which includes thousands of participants, had already traversed parts of Algeria, Tunisia and the western Libyan cities of Tripoli and Misrata. Jawaher Shana, one of the convoy's Tunisia-based organizers, said the convoy would eventually continue. 'We are peaceful civilians who are known in our countries,' she told a crowd at Sirte Gate. The efforts — the activist flotilla, the overland convoy and the planned march — come as international outcry grows over conditions in Gaza. As part of a campaign to pressure Hamas to disarm and release hostages, Israel has continued to pummel the territory with airstrikes while limiting the flow of trucks carrying food, water and medication that can enter. The U.N. has said the vast majority of the population relies on humanitarian aid to survive and experts have warned the coastal enclave will likely fall into famine if Israel doesn't lift its blockade and stop its military campaign. Over U.N. objections, a U.S.-backed group has taken control of the limited aid entering Gaza. But as desperate Palestinians crowd its distribution sites, chaos has erupted and almost 200 people have been killed near aid sites. Nearly half a million Palestinians are on the brink of possible starvation , and 1 million others can barely get enough food, according to findings by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a leading international authority. Israel has rejected the findings, saying the IPC's previous forecasts had proven unfounded. __ McNeil reported from Barcelona. Associated Press journalist Youssef Murad in Tripoli, Libya, contributed to this report. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. 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