Religious studies exam reportedly leaked, angry students call for more protests

On Monday, hundreds of students gathered outside the ministry's headquarters to call for Minister El-Helaly El-Sherbiny's immediate dismissal

The religious studies thanaweyya amma secondary school exam was reportedly leaked online shortly before the test was due to start on Wednesday, as a number of Facebook pages had promised it would the night before.
The Ministry of Education has denied the authenticity of the leaks and claims the version of the exam uploaded online is incorrect.
Bel Ghesh Etgma'na (Through cheating, we are gathered) was allegedly the first page to release the exam this morning.
"Our source is top secret: a hacker. They manage to get the exam that is sent to an important official on the morning of the test," the page told Daily News Egypt via a Facebook message.
Bel Ghesh Etgma'na also said that they work independently and are not affiliated with other pages like ChaoMing.
The page uploads the exam gradually during the scheduled time of the exam. However, for EGP 100 in Vodafone credit, the page will send students the exam by 7:00 am on the morning of the test.
Meanwhile, students continue to interact with the administrators of the Facebook pages that have uploaded images of the solved rubric, verifying that it was the same as the test they were given.
The religious studies exam was originally scheduled for 5 June but was postponed after the first set of leaks surfaced early enough for the ministry to cancel the exam.
Leaks have plagued the thanaweya amma examinations this year more than ever before, with leaks of almost every subject having surfaced online minutes before or during the examination period.
Security around the Ministry of Education has reportedly been amped up amidst calls for more demonstrations today by angry students.
On Monday, hundreds of students gathered outside the ministry's headquarters to call for Minister El-Helaly El-Sherbiny's immediate dismissal.
Students within Al-Tayar Al-Sha'aby (The popular current) have voiced their support for the senior class.
"We condemn the monstrous way the security forces dispersed the student protesters in Cairo and other provinces," they said in a statement made Tuesday night.
El-Sherbiny has come under fire for the leaks in parliament as well during a heated three-hour meeting of the parliament's education and scientific research committees.
The Ministry of Interior has already arrested dozens of individuals it claims were responsible for the leaks, confiscating a number of laptops, SIM cards, and other similar items.
After similar incidents last year, President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi issued a decree that stipulated a fine ranging from EGP 20,000 to EGP 50,000 and prospective jail time for those who leak exam papers.