Libyan students in Egypt: Al-Azhar opens its facilities and schools established for Libyans

Mouaz Mohammad

Since the outbreak of the Libyan crisis in 2011, Egypt has stood next to its sister Libya in all fields to help it out of this setback. Among the means of assistance has been receiving Libyan students to study in Cairo schools and universities, whose number has increased significantly due to the developments within Libya.

Libyan schools in Egypt

In November 2015, Egyptian Ministry of Education officials discussed with the Libyan cultural advisor at the Libyan embassy in Cairo, Dr. Mohamed Ahmed al-Walid, regarding the establishment of Libyan schools in Egypt.

Dr. Ali al-Ahwal, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Libyan Social and Cultural Association in Egypt, said in an interview with the London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat in September 2017 that the Libyan authorities were seeking to open three public schools in some areas in Egypt where there is a high number of Libyans, including Nasr City in eastern Cairo, New Cairo, Sixth of October City, and Alexandria Governorate. The aim is to accommodate the increasing number of students rather than relying on private schools.

The Libyan students in Egypt are divided into two segments. The first segment includes delegates from the government who are studying at its expense, and the second are those studying at their own expense. There is a private Libyan school in Cairo and Alexandria bearing the name Shining Stars, but the tuition fees are high, estimated at $1,100 annually per student, which has prevented many students are not enrolled.

Studying at Al-Azhar

In August 2016, the an association of Libyans in Egypt announced the start of receiving requests to register Libyan students in the first and secondary schools and branches of Al-Azhar University in Egypt’s governorates, under the direction of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb.

In December 2017, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb called for doubling the number of scholarships granted to Libyan students studying at the university, stressing that supporting Libya is a religious and national duty for Al-Azhar, which seeks to spread peace throughout the world.

In the same context, Sheikh Akram Faraj al-Jarari, head of the Libyan branch of the International Organization of Al-Azhar Graduates, confirmed in late November 2019 that Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayyeb agreed to admit Libyan students to study at the university in all its scientific and legal colleges.

Jarari stated in press statements that there are currently 186 university students in the master’s and postgraduate studies programs studying at the expense of Al-Azhar, and he thanked Al-Azhar for supporting the people of Libya.

Students union in the capital

In June 2016, a headquarters for the Union of Libyan Students was opened in the Nasr City neighborhood in Cairo to serve Libyan students studying in Cairo and to provide them with all facilities in cooperation with the educational institutions in the country.

The union participates in many events held at Egyptian universities, which have also been attended by the cultural attaché at the Libyan embassy in Cairo, Dr. Salah Al-Juwayli; the president of the Students Union, Aseel Saeed Al-Juwaiji; and the director of public relations, Dr. Noufal Al-Juaidi.