July 1 has been set as the start date for the final academic year exams for universities across Egypt, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar said during a Sunday press conference.
Abdel-Ghaffar explained that it is up to each university to set the exam schedules, and determine all precautionary measures to ensure the safety and security of students and faculty members.
Egypt’s Supreme Council of Universities (SCU) decided on April 18 to postpone the final academic year exams for all faculties until the study suspension period is lifted.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi suspended schools and universities since March 14 as part of a comprehensive plan to face the coronavirus outbreak.
The Egyptian government imposed a nationwide curfew since March 24 as part of its precautionary measures to limit the spread of coronavirus. The measures also include the suspension of schools and universities across the country, as well as the closure of all cafes, bars, cafeterias, and restaurants nationwide.
The SCU has cancelled all written and oral exams scheduled for the second semester of the 2019/2020 academic year.
As the grades for these exams will no longer be able to count for the cumulative total score for all academic years, the curricula will instead be completed through several alternatives though the current educational system.
According to the SCU, the first of the alternatives is that each student prepares a research thesis according to courses taught during the semester. The second alternative will be electronic tests based on courses this semester, taking into regard faculties or study programs with limited student numbers.
Egypt announced on Sunday 491 new coronavirus cases and 20 additional deaths, bringing the total number of cases confirmed so far to 11,719 in the country, while 612 people have died from the virus in Egypt.
