A special committee created by parliament’s consultative Shura Council–mandated with following up on President Hosni Mubarak’s recent speech at the opening session of the assembly–issued a report revealing that the per capita share of national revenue had decreased.
The report also found that the quality of public education had fallen, while rates of poverty, illiteracy and child labor had all gone up.
The report also found that the foreign companies contracted to collect garbage in Egyptian cities had failed to deliver the levels of service initially promised, while the public had been forced to bear the high fees–which were added to electricity bills–paid out to these companies.
The report also revealed that the number of rail and road accidents had increased despite government promises to modernize the public transport sector. In 2008, there were 22,400 automobile accidents, compared to 19,200 in 2007, costing the state budget between LE10billion and LE15 billion in annual losses–in addition to some LE1 billion paid out by insurance companies to accident victims.
The report went on to describe the 100-km ring road as a "death trap" lacking adequate traffic-safety features, even though some 150,000 vehicles use the road daily. According to the report, most roads and bridges nationwide are in serious need of upgrades within the next three years at the most.
The report further called for the "modernization" of school and university education, and for separating scientific research departments from the Education Ministry to be made into an independent sector with its own budget.
Finally, the report called for the implementation of earlier recommendations by President Mubarak for the amendment of legislation pertaining to medical and social insurance, and for allowing private-sector participation in public infrastructure projects.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
