CAIRO - Young people will join hands with police and the Army in securing examination halls for Thanawia Amma students, whose final tests start tomorrow, the Minister of Education said. Minister Ahmed Gamal Eddin Moussa said that the Ministry has agreed to use the youth in protecting the nation's schools, where the exams are held. Units of police troops, military police and five selected male youths will guard the schools to secure the students' coming in and out of the schools before and after the examination periods, Minister Moussa said, urging the local media not to exaggerate the Thanaweia Amma exams and add extra worries to the students and their parents, too. The highly competitive Thanawia Amma year-end exams, which pave the way for a university education, is always stressful to both students and parents. It is equivalent of the A-levels or SATs. Most students taking the thanawia amma come from middle – and low-income families, while wealthier students are able to opt for private education at English, French or German schools. The fiercely competitive test pushes parents to find new ways to help their children cheat ... shouting answers outside classroom windows, using text messages or even hiding cheatsheets under religious headscarves.
