Egyptian student deaths stir parents' fears
The death toll among students in Egyptian schools has been rising because of negligence and deterioration of school maintenance.
CAIRO — Two months have passed since the academic year began on Sept. 20, which has not been peaceful so far as a number of students have been killed in incidents that took place at their schools, due to "negligence and the deterioration of school maintenance," according to parents interviewed by Al-Monitor.
On Oct. 13, Youssef Mohamed, a primary school student, died after a dilapidated class window at Ammar ibn Yasir public school in the rural El-Matareya district in Cairo fell down onto him, cutting his throat.
Youssef was bleeding profusely, and several hospitals refused to admit him to avoid taking responsibility. Finally, one hospital admitted him and he underwent surgery. But soon after, he was pronounced dead.
“I was sitting beside Youssef on that day, when the students asked him to open the class window because it was hot, but the dilapidated window dropped on his neck cutting his throat,” his classmate Ahmed told Al-Monitor. Ahmed, 10, was hesitant while speaking to us but his mother encouraged him to tell his story.
