Khaberni - The incident of the death of an Egyptian student in the STEM gifted schools caused a major uproar in Egypt, amidst conflicting narratives about the cause of death, while the Ministry of Education issued a statement clarifying the details of the incident.
Adham Atef, a student at the gifted schools in science and technology STEM, passed away, and his peers and parents claimed that Adham was suffering severe exhaustion but the school refused to grant him permission to return home due to practical exams being held. This type of school operates a full boarding system for students.
The governor of Beni Suef, Dr. Mohamed Hani Ghneim, decided to refer the incident to the public prosecution for investigation, based on reports from both the Directorates of Education and Health, which proved severe negligence in the administrative handling of the student’s situation at the school, and also indicated the dismissal of the school's principal.
The Ministry of Education, meanwhile, issued a statement about the incident stating that the circulated information was incorrect, and that it had conducted an extensive investigation concerning the circumstances of the death, noting that the school officials had asked the student's guardian to keep him at home due to his apparent fatigue.
The ministry also mentioned that the student's guardian sent the school pictures showing his health condition in bed, and the school requested that he remain at home until he fully recovered, but they were surprised the next day by their arrival claiming the student's improved condition despite obvious signs of fatigue, adding that the school refused to accept the student but his father insisted on leaving him at the school and then departed.
The school's doctor noticed an increase in the student's temperature amid clear fatigue, and recommended that he be transferred for an external examination, but the guardian could not be reached, so the student was isolated in the medical isolation room and his condition was monitored, and preliminary treatment was administered, but his condition worsened the next day and he was transferred to the Bani Sweif General Hospital.
The statement indicated that the guardian insisted on transferring his son to the social security hospital at his full responsibility, where the student was transferred to the pulmonary hospital, and there he died on Tuesday evening.
In this regard, local reports, quoting the governor of Beni Suef, mentioned that according to the health department's report, the student had contracted pneumonia, and that the poor administrative handling of his condition led to complications.
The governor indicated the dismissal of the school principal from her position due to proven severe negligence according to the reports of the health and education directorates, explaining that the school follows the central administration of the ministry and is not affiliated with the provincial directorate of education.
He emphasized that the situation inside the school is safe and reassuring, and that there is continuous monitoring to ensure the safety of all students.
