Egyptian universities commenced mid-year exams on Saturday amid strict precautionary measures against the spread of the coronavirus.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research issued a statement on Friday calling on students to adhere to all precautionary measures, including being present at the campus before the exam according to the announced schedule and to keep facemasks on entire during their stay in the examination committee and university.
Students will not be allowed to enter the university without a facemask, the ministry warned. All students must also bring their own tools to the exams, with no tools allowed to be shared between students.
The ministry added social distancing must be strictly enforced, which includes no handshakes or physical contact.
It stressed that the school’s administration must be notified of any symptoms or sick history before the admission examination committees dedicated to sick students.
The ministry further recommended the use of sterilizing alcohol tools for each student, and that they carefully depart the committee individually as soon as the exam is over from the designated exits.
At Benha University, the Director of the University’s Central Department of Crises and Disasters Ibrahim Rajeh, said that the maximum degree of readiness had been announced in preparation for the first semester exams in the various faculties of the university.
These measures include providing disinfectants, following up on disinfection, providing sterilization gates for each faculty, and raising the degree of readiness within university hospitals and the university medical department.
The education and higher education ministries ordered schools and universities in December to switch back to online learning as of January 2 due to a surge in new infections with COVID-19.
The mid-year vacation for the current academic year 2020-2021 began on January 10 until February 26.
