EGYPT: Professors to hold sit-in

A coalition of faculty members at Egyptian public universities decided last week to hold a nation-wide on-campus open sit-in starting 3 July, to push for the resignation of interim Minister of Higher Education, Amr Salama, for ignoring the coalition's demands, writes Heba Fahmy for Daily News Egypt.

The demands include the resignation of university presidents and faculty deans who were allied to the former corrupt regime, the free and fair election of new heads of universities and deans, and increasing the state's education and scientific research budget, according to a statement issued on the group's Facebook page. The sit-in will continue until all demands are met, the statement added.

The coalition was established following the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak after an 18-day popular revolt that started on 25 January. Its goal is to lobby for university professors' demands and rights and consists of seven independent movements including the March 9 Movement that calls for the independence of universities and the April 6 Youth Movement.
Full report on the Daily News Egypt site