Egypt Expands E-Learning to Cope with Pandemic

High school students wearing protective masks wait in line during the first day of final exams, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease outbreak, in Cairo, Egypt June 21, 2020. (Reuters)
High school students wearing protective masks wait in line during the first day of final exams, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease outbreak, in Cairo, Egypt June 21, 2020. (Reuters)
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Egypt Expands E-Learning to Cope with Pandemic

High school students wearing protective masks wait in line during the first day of final exams, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease outbreak, in Cairo, Egypt June 21, 2020. (Reuters)
High school students wearing protective masks wait in line during the first day of final exams, amid concerns over the coronavirus disease outbreak, in Cairo, Egypt June 21, 2020. (Reuters)

Egyptian authorities have sought to expand e-learning platforms and mechanisms as it entered the second day of the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

The government, meanwhile, commended the “unrivaled” awareness shown by worshippers at mosques following the decision to reopen them.

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi urged during a meeting with Education Minister Tarek Shawki the “expansion” of the use of e-learning platforms and apps. He also called for assessing the e-learning experience that was necessitated during the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown.

Shawki said that 1.5 million students are sitting for this year’s official high school exams, which are being supervised by 500,000 academic staff members. Preventive measures have been taken by the government to ensure that the tests are held in safe health conditions.

Egypt was among the few countries that managed to complete the academic year despite the pandemic, he added.

Meanwhile, the Awqaf Ministry hailed as “unprecedented” the level of awareness and responsibility displayed by worshippers as mosques reopened for the first time since virus restrictions were eased.

They are totally aware of the sensitivity of this stage and have committed to the preventive measures set by the Ministry, such as wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, avoiding handshakes and leaving the mosque immediately after completing prayers.



Palestinian Prime Minister Says Palestinian Authority Should Run Gaza in Future

Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammed Mustafa and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide attend a meeting of the Global Alliance for the implementation of the two-State Solution at Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway, January 15, 2025. (Heiko Junge/NTB/via Reuters)
Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammed Mustafa and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide attend a meeting of the Global Alliance for the implementation of the two-State Solution at Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway, January 15, 2025. (Heiko Junge/NTB/via Reuters)
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Palestinian Prime Minister Says Palestinian Authority Should Run Gaza in Future

Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammed Mustafa and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide attend a meeting of the Global Alliance for the implementation of the two-State Solution at Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway, January 15, 2025. (Heiko Junge/NTB/via Reuters)
Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammed Mustafa and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide attend a meeting of the Global Alliance for the implementation of the two-State Solution at Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway, January 15, 2025. (Heiko Junge/NTB/via Reuters)

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa said it “will not be acceptable” for any entity other than the Palestinian Authority to run the Gaza Strip in the future.

Mustafa made the comments on Wednesday as he visited Norway, one of three European countries that formally recognized a Palestinian state in May.

Hamas seized power in Gaza in 2007, confining the Palestinian Authority’s limited self-rule to parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The US has called for a revitalized Palestinian Authority to govern both the West Bank and Gaza ahead of eventual statehood, which the Israeli government opposes.

“While we’re waiting for the ceasefire, it’s important to stress that it will not be acceptable for any entity to govern Gaza Strip but the legitimate Palestinian leadership and the government of the State of Palestine," Mustafa said.

He added that “any attempt to consolidate the separation between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, or creating transitional entities, will be rejected.”

Mustafa stressed that “we should not leave Gaza to vacuum ... We are the government of Palestine, ready to hold our responsibilities in the Gaza Strip as we did before.”