The celebration of Ain Shams University receiving the Confucius Prize witnessed the honoring of a number of people who were emancipated from illiteracy, including Dr. Lobna Saleh, who holds a doctorate in Islamic Archeology, as a shining role model, and a message to everyone about the necessity of non-stop perseverance and keenness to receive and gain knowledge.

Dr. Lobna Saleh mentioned that she belongs to one of the Bedouin tribes in Fayoum, emphasizing that some tribes refuse to educate their girls because of the difficulty of transportation there and the distance of schools.

She added that during the 90s, literacy classes were opened in Fayoum, and she proposed the matter to her father who agreed upon her education with other 40 ladies, mentioning that she learned how to read and write in three months.

After her father’s death, her bother urged her to enter the preparatory stage and in fact she did enroll in the preparatory stage (from home). She sat for exams in the school nearest to her, mentioning that she was outstanding and got the top level in spite of the difficulty of the matter. She used to study alone with the assistance of her brother, Prof. Assistant in National Research Center.

After the end of the transitional phase, she enrolled in the secondary stage and obtained its certificate. Despite the advice of others to obtain the diploma certificate, she insisted on continuing her path and enrolling in the secondary stage. She stood for the first time in the school morning line, noting her participation in the school broadcast by presenting the sport news daily. She got total percentage of 97% in the secondary stage and she ranked first on her school in the art section and the first on the educational administration.

The doctorate holder in Islamic Archeology stated that she was surprised when she ranked first on the educational administration in the secondary stage, Afterwards, she wanted to obtain the doctorate degree, so she enrolled in the Faculty of Archeology at Fayoum University and specialized in the Islamic Archeology. She stated that she got the recognition of Excellence with Rank of Honor in the doctorate thesis and recommendation for publishing and printing it in different universities at the State’s expenses.

The 1200 thesis, she continued, is considered as an encyclopedia, as the lead discussant told her that if there is a higher degree that the doctorate, he would have granted it to her.

About the doctorate thesis, she indicated that it contains life forms during the 13th and 14th centuries in the light of the orientalists’ vision and it is an artistic archeological study.