CAIRO: The new academic year got off on the wrong foot on Saturday as teachers and students decided to take the day off. A shortage of school books and lack of preparation at the schools completed the picture, though on the bright side smoothly-flowing traffic put Cairenes relatively at ease. This is arguably the result of a call by the Kefaya movement to boycott the first day of school, to "make Sept. 20 a day for peaceful protest against policies of humiliation and degradation. George Ishaq, founder and former coordinator of the Kefaya movement, considers the strike a success. He sees it as "a response to the worsening situation of the education scene by the failed government policies. "The peaceful strike was successful and its effect was notable in the relatively smooth traffic yesterday [Saturday], Ishaq told Daily News Egypt. "Elementary students went to school but middle and high school students didn't go. In addition many teachers didn't attend the first day of classes in protest at the implementation of the new teachers' law, added Ishaq, referring only to public schools. The movement's next step regarding education involves holding a national convention where they will bring together representatives of political parties and NGOs as well as teachers and students to discuss ways to improve the quality of education in Egypt, explained Ishaq. "Egypt is in danger because education is in danger, he previously told Daily News Egypt, criticizing the government's many failed attempts to reform the education system. Meanwhile, chaos erupted on the first day of school at a number of governorates where there was an absence of principles, teachers and a shortage of books at some schools, according news reports. Around 400 students and parents demonstrated at a school in Qena to protest the school's integration with another school and in other areas some complained that the schools are still being renovated. On the other hand, state-run Al-Ahram newspaper reported a seamless first day as approximately 17 million students headed to public and private schools and universities on Saturday. Representatives from the Ministry of Education weren't available for comment at time of press.
