Committee agrees to address problem of medical specialties students

During a meeting, the Education, Culture and Guidance Affairs Committee called for addressing the negativities of the decision to stop sending medical specializations to some countries and to stop transferring the specialization and scholarship headquarters to their respective universities, in order to limit its effects.

The head of the committee, MP Hamad Al-Olayan, said in a statement to the National Assembly media center that the committee has agreed with the Minister of Education and Higher Education to quickly address the problem of 300 male and female students studying medical specialties in Egyptian and Jordanian universities by including them on scholarships, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

Al-Olayan indicated that the meeting was held at the request of the Minister of Higher Education to develop solutions to address some of the problems and observations from the previous decision. He stated that the minister and the competent authorities clearly listened to the committee’s opinion, which was conveyed by the consensus of its members who emphasized the need for solutions so that the quality of education does not suffer, calling it a red line for all members.”

Al-Olayan stated that the committee unanimously informed the minister that the previous decision taken to stop scholarships in medical specialties in Egypt and Jordan lacks equality by preventing those on scholarship, while allowing people who study at their own expense.

He called “this is discrimination and inequality that must be remedied,” noting that the decision resulted in the deprivation of 300 scholarship students who were approved for admission and study at these universities.

He said that the committee agreed on a vision to allow the 2023-2024 batch of students studying in medical specialties in Egypt and Jordan to be sent directly and included in foreign missions according to the conditions approved before the decision was taken.

He explained that the committee asked the minister to search for other alternatives and expand into Gulf universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar, saying the minister has promised to look into this issue.

Al-Olayan indicated that the minister’s request to hold a meeting with the committee came from his feeling that there was a problem that must be solved, pointing out that the minister promised to convey the committee’s vision in a close meeting to the Academic Accreditation Authority and reach a decision to treat these cases of students in Kuwait, and take the decision next Thursday.

Al-Olayan said, “We informed the minister at the conclusion of the meeting that if a decision is not issued before the end of next Thursday, the committee will call for another meeting next week to follow up on this matter and inquire about the reasons for not issuing this decision.”