CARIO – Calligraphy as a peculiar form of Islamic artistic expression has its enthusiasts that are very keen to keep the art alive and to qualify young generations of calligraphers interested in learning the rules of the different schools of Arabic script. Museum and gallery exhibitions of calligraphic works by the leading contemporary exponents are acclaimed in both Egypt and Europe. In Egyptian primary schools, handwriting has special classes, where pupils are trained to write in the Req'a and Naskh styles in an attempt to retain a tradition of embellished Arabic handwriting. Three years ago, the Egyptian Calligraphy Society submitted a request to the People's Assembly (the Lower House of the now dissolved Egyptian Parliament) to endorse the establishment of a union for calligraphers, but it was not until after the January revolution that such a request was officially endorsed. Today, the union membership includes 20,000 professional calligraphers. Calligraphers, however, are very distressed at a decision taken last year by then minister of education Ahmed Zaki Badr in the former Ahmed Nazif Cabinet, whereby 300 calligraphy schools across the nation were not to accept new students. Badr had in mind affiliating calligraphy classes to technical schools. Calligraphers today are standing in the face of what they believe to be an attempt to eradicate calligraphy schools. They are frustrated that from 6,000 to 8,000 potential students, 60 per cent of which are female, are to be prevented from enrolling in these specialised schools. “Arabic calligraphy is threatened with extinction and about 6,000 calligraphy teachers will become out of work, if the decision is validated”, Mohamed el-Baghdadi, deputy chairman of the Egyptian Calligraphy Society told Al-Mussawar Arabic magazine. At a time when the activities of the newly born union are growing fast, the closure of calligraphy schools seems out of tune, as calligraphers say. The union has lodged a complaint to the incumbent education minister Ahmed Gamal Eddin, who has frozen the decision for the time being. So, the new school year has already started but first grade classes remain vacant of new students. Although teachers and students have said they would organise protest next week, Khodeir el-Porssaiedi chairman of the union believes that now is not the right time for protests considering the already chaotic scene Egypt is suffering from. He is convinced that demands could be better claimed through understanding and negotiations with officials in charge.
