A file photo for a group of high students protesting against the ministry of education in 2015 (Photo:Ahram Online)
A group of high school students organised protests in Cairo and Alexandria against Education Minister El-Hilali El-Sherbini on Monday, calling for his dismissal over recent leaks of high school exam papers.
In Cairo, dozens of high school students protested in front of the ministry's headquarters, demanding the dismissal of El-Sheribini and cancellation of the current grading system for students to enroll in universities.
The students chanted against El-Sheribini and the ministry, shouting: "Down with the ministry of leaks!" and "Down with the ministry of cheating!"
In Alexandria, dozens of high school students protested in front of the Alexandria Bibliotheca, also demanding the grading system be changed.
Security forces dispersed the protest as it was unauthorised; protests that have not received prior police permission are illegal according to a 2013 controversial law. Six students were arrested and detained, but later released.
At least three high school exam papers, including those for Arabic and English exams, were leaked on social media before and during the summer high school exams, for the fourth year in a row.
The general prosecution are investigating the leaks, and several people have been arrested for allegedly sharing the leaked material via popular cheating Facebook pages. A number of officials at the education ministry were also arrested pending investigations.
Marks scored on the high school exams, known as the thanaweya amma, dictate students' university choices.
More than 500,000 students are sitting this year's tests.
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