Egypt detains 12 officials for leaking final exams

CAIRO – Egypt’s official news agency says 12 Education Ministry officials have been detained after answers to the final nationwide exams for Arabic and religion were posted on Facebook.

MENA says the officials were detained Monday pending investigation. They face charges of “intentionally harming the public interest and funds.”

The exams were posted on a Facebook account run by an anonymous individual, who said he wanted to shine a spotlight on corruption and inefficiency.

Scores on the exams, known as Thanaweya Amma, directly determine entrance to university faculties. A low score can prevent a student from pursuing medicine or other professions.

Egypt’s education system has long been plagued by overcrowded classrooms and poorly trained teachers, forcing millions of students to rely on private tutors.

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