Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, reviewed a report on the second semester exams for the academic year 2020/2021 for public, and private universities and institutes, which include nearly 3 million students.

The report indicated that, in light of the application of strict precautionary measures to prevent the emerging corona virus, the exams for the second semester of the academic year 2020/2021 started, from last May 25 in all universities and institutes, whether for the undergraduate or qualifying stages for postgraduate studies, where the exams were organized For nearly 3 million students in 27 public universities comprising 442 faculties, 24 technical nursing institutes, 37 postgraduate studies, and 29 private universities comprising 264 faculties, in addition to 173 institutes.

The report pointed out that over the course of the exams, all necessary measures were taken to deal with them, starting with following medical procedures, passing through isolation procedures, examining contacts, and even giving those who tested positive the necessary treatment, as university presidents and deans of faculties continued to apply preventive measures to ensure existence of maximum protection from the Corona virus, with immediate treatment of any cases of infection that appeared in accordance with Egyptian protocols.

The report pointed out that over the course of the exams, all necessary measures were taken to deal with them, starting with following medical procedures, passing through isolation procedures, examining contacts, and even giving those who tested positive the necessary treatment, as university presidents and deans of faculties continued to apply preventive measures to ensure existence of maximum protection from the Corona virus, with immediate treatment of any cases of infection that appeared in accordance with Egyptian protocols.

The report reviewed the general and precautionary measures that were taken that ensured the smooth conduct of the exams, as the precautionary and health measures were applied through: The presence of several outlets in the faculties to receive students on the morning of the exam day, an hour before the committee’s appointment, as there was no crowding, the provision of faculties on those outlets (heat detector - Masks - sterilizer - disinfectant), making a compulsory path for students to enter the committees and a mandatory path to exit even outside the faculty to prevent gatherings inside the faculty, whether before or after the exam, the presence of sterilization gates in front of and inside all exam headquarters and halls, assigning administrative security personnel to oblige students with a map of the compulsory path to enter and exit, and making sure that the observers and workers wear masks and gloves, in addition to measuring their temperature every period of the exam throughout the day, and making sure that only 50% of the capacity of the stands is occupied, with full commitment to having a sufficient distance between each student and another inside the examination halls that are sterilized. Continuously, ensuring that observers or workers are not subjected to any isolation or quarantine during the past three weeks, and forming groups of students under the direct supervision of the faculties staff, their mission is to encourage students to engage in initiatives, including: (Reassure us - your health matters to us) to ensure the safety of students before entering the exam committees.

As for the general measures that were taken for the proper conduct of the exams, the report indicated that the following measures were taken, the presence of a sufficient period between the daily exam periods, the absence of more than one study group to perform the exams during the same period, and the prohibition of vacations for the medical staff, especially in the medical centers of the faculties During exams, to ensure the provision of a doctor for each exam hall, allocate an isolation room for each exam hall, allocate isolation rooms in university cities for suspected cases, and announce precautionary measures on faculty websites and exam schedules to ensure their dissemination to students and all means of communication.

Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, affirmed the universities’ success in organizing exams at the end of the academic year 2020/2021 for 3 million students, which was a great challenge, noting that the follow-up system at the Ministry of Higher Education and the Supreme Council of Universities, which follows on a daily basis attendance rates of students and injuries, in cooperation and coordination with all the institutions of the Egyptian state, he contributed to maintaining the integrity of all elements of the educational system, praising the great cooperation of university leaders, deans of faculties, faculty staff and the administrative apparatus in the effective organization, as well as the students’ failure to listen to rumors and false news, which had an impact Positive in motivating students to attend and insisting on participating in exams and not wasting time.