Khaberni - The decision by the Libyan Ministry of Education to impose "complete and definitive" segregation between genders within educational institutions has sparked controversy in educational and legal circles.
This comes amidst differing evaluations of its implications, with some viewing it as a measure in line with societal customs, and others seeing it as a step that could impose additional restrictions on the educational environment.
Broad Organizational Decision
The Minister of Education in the Government of National Unity — based in Tripoli — Mohamed Abdelsalam Al-Qaryou issued an "urgent" directive mandating the segregation of students by gender, not only within classroom settings at the secondary level, but also in public facilities within schools, such as courtyards, lounges, and playgrounds.
The decision also includes the organization of joint activities, which are to be subject to prior procedures, in addition to guidelines concerning content published on official platforms of educational institutions, in accordance with what the ministry described as "Libyan privacy".
According to a statement from the ministry, these measures are in the framework of "protecting religious and national values," and preventing what it considered “violations” that do not conform to norms and religious teachings.
Background of the Decision
According to observers, the decision came after a video spread on a school's Facebook page showing a male and female student celebrating together during an awards ceremony, which triggered widespread interaction on social media.
Some participants considered the scene to reflect inappropriate mixing before it was later clarified that the two students were siblings, and that the situation was in a celebratory family context.
Legal Observations
Conversely, a number of human rights lawyers and activists have expressed reservations about the decision, especially regarding its consistency with the legal frameworks that govern the educational process.
Ahmed Abdel Hakim Hamza, the head of the Libyan National Institution of Human Rights, stated that the decision was driven by populism and ideological pressure.
In a statement to “Al-Ain News,” Hamza pointed out what he described as a double standard in dealing with certain issues, saying “the same voices that scream today in the name of virtue know very well where real corruption is brewed in retreats and closed dens under the protection of the powerful, while targeting innocent children.”
Warnings of Potential Repercussions
The Libyan journalist Afaf Al-Ferjani believes that the decision could have broader implications on societal norms and the role of education.
She said: "The matter has transcended a fleeting controversy; we are facing the contours of a religious state beginning with the demonization of the female body and the restriction of its public role."
In an exclusive statement to "Al-Ain News," she affirmed that Libyan society is moderate by nature, considering that it would not allow armies of fake accounts or ideological forces to hijack the country in the name of religion.
She criticized what she described as selective focus, saying "the focus is on a strand of hair or mixing in schools, while silence persists over grave violations committed by armed groups and influential parties."
She indicated that the decision might affect the private and international education sector, and that tightening restrictions could prompt international schools and educational investments to leave Libya if the environment no longer aligns with international standards.
