Khaberni - The incident of the death of an Egyptian student at the gifted "STEM" schools caused a great uproar in Egypt, amid 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 classmates and parents claimed that Adham was suffering from severe exhaustion, but the school refused to allow him to return home due to practical exams. These schools operate a full boarding system for students.
Dr. Mohamed Hani Ghoneim, the Governor of Beni Suef, decided to refer the incident to the Public Prosecution for investigation, based on reports from both the Directorate of Education and the Directorate of Health, which proved there was gross negligence in the administrative handling of the student’s case inside the school, and noted the isolation of the school principal.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education issued a statement about the incident saying that the circulated information was incorrect, and that it conducted a thorough investigation about the circumstances of the death, indicating that the school officials had asked the student's guardian to keep him at home due to his apparent state of fatigue.
The ministry mentioned that the guardian sent the school pictures showing his health condition on the sickbed, so the school asked him to stay home until he fully recovered, but was surprised the next day by their attendance claiming the student's improved condition despite clear signs of fatigue, adding that the school refused to accept the student but his father insisted on leaving him at the school and then left.
It added that the school's doctor noticed an increase in the student's temperature amid obvious 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 dispensed, then his condition worsened the next day and he was transferred to the Beni Suef General Hospital.
The statement pointed out the insistence of the student's guardian to transfer his son to the Health Insurance Hospital under his full responsibility, where the student was transferred to the Chest Hospital, and there he passed away on Tuesday evening.
Local reports, citing the governor of Beni Suef, noted that according to the Health Directorate report, it was proven that the student suffered from pneumonia, and that poor administrative handling of his case led to complications.
The governor noted the isolation of the school principal from her position due to proven gross negligence according to the directories of health and education reports, explaining that the school follows the central administration at the ministry and is not affiliated with the directorate of education in the governorate.
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.
