Ministry details services delivered to 12K disabled students at Egyptian public universities

CAIRO – 3 May 2022: The Ministry of Social Solidarity announced Tuesday that the number of disabled students benefiting from the designated units at public units has hit 12,100.

The ministry-affiliated units had determined the needs of the students through surveys and focus groups, a press statement by the ministry indicated.

As such, the tuition fees of 3,000 disabled low-income students were paid by the ministry, and 1,700 prosthetic devices were provided free of charge. Those consist of wheelchairs, white sticks, assistive listening devices, and laptop computers equipped with screen readers for the blind.

Further, events, attended by 5,600 students, were held to raise awareness on helping disabled colleagues.

Most importantly, 17 sports and entertainment camps were held so as they included activities like blind football, wheelchair race, handball, tennis, music playing, and singing.

Simultaneously, workshops on handicrafts, such as decoupage, home accessories, broderie, and crochet, were also held. In addition, 1,670 comprehensive service cards were issued for disabled students to facilitate their access to free-of-charge services offered by the government.

Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine al-Qabaj stated in March - during a ceremony held to honor disabled athletes - that LE5 billion ($312.5 million) in monetary subsidies are disbursed to disabled citizens every year.

Qabaj added that the ministry also pays the tuition fees of 300,000 disabled school students declaring that the figure will be raised to 500,000. That is in addition to hiring sign language interpreters at public universities.

The minister pointed out that the country has 630 centers for rehabilitating and training disabled people, highlighting that their services include sports.

Consultant to Minister of Social Solidarity for the Affairs of the Disabled Maha Helaly stated in a TV interview in December that health insurance has been offered to 800,000 differently- abled individuals as a first phase.

Helaly noted that the law grants disabled individuals the right to acquire two pensions as well as a tax exemption to parents of disabled children.