Egypt’s Supreme Council of Universities announced on Saturday a set of strict precautionary measures that are to be taken against coronavirus as universities and institutes prepare to hold the mid-year exams on 27 February.
The mid-year exams in schools and universities were officially postponed in December due to coronavirus concerns. Authorities also announced this month the extending of the mid-year vacation by a week to end on 26 February.
The measures were announced following a meeting of the council on Saturday, during which they also announced the extending of the current school year for three weeks to ensure the fulfillment of study plans.
The measures include ensuring the availability of many entrances for each faculty to receive students an hour before exams along with securing masks, forehead thermometers and sterilizers.
Faculties will determine a compulsory route for students to enter exams and a compulsory route for them to leave in order to prevent gatherings before or after exams. Exam halls will be equipped with disinfection gates on their entrances and each student’s temperature will be checked before entering.
The measures include ensuring that lecture halls operate only at half capacity and that a two-meter-distance between each two students is maintained. Masks will be provided to all students and supervisors and will be worn throughout the exam period.
Specialized companies will take care of disinfecting exam halls between exams. The decisions also include ensuring that each student uses his/her own stationary and that they do not pass them to their peers.
After observers collect exam papers, while wearing disposable gloves and masks, they would put the papers in boxes and leave them untouched for not less than four days before they are marked.
Source: Al-Ahram Online
