President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi may visit Cairo University next week to present awards to top students and deliver a speech for the beginning of the new academic year, Youm7 reported Wednesday.
The university is currently taking procedures to prepare for the visit, including cleaning and restoration in some buildings, as another high-level delegation visited the university Wednesday.
Al-Masry Al-Youm reported Thursday according to “reliable” sources that Saturday and Sunday are scheduled to be off for all workers.
It added the presidency is supposed to meet university authorities Saturday morning to prepare security measures for the presidential visit.
According to the source, the university will close all of its activities during the expected days of the visit, and no workers or security conscripts will be allowed to enter the university without permission.
The expected presidential visit comes in light of strict instructions banning political activity inside universities from Minister of Higher Education Sayyed Abdel Khaleq.
Abdel Khaleq said following a meeting in August that this academic year will witness major changes concerning student activism due to last year’s events, referring to clashes between students and security forces during political protests. He said the ban on political activities and agendas is to maintain security on university campuses and the stability of the education process.
Egyptian universities, especially Al-Azhar and Cairo Universities, witnessed many demonstrations last year, which often escalated into violence after the dispersal of the Rabaa al-Adaweya and Nahda Square sit-ins. Most of the demonstrations were organized by pro-Muslim Brotherhood students who raised Rabaa signs and photos of ousted President Mohamed Morsi.
