Cafés closed in governorates to limit students’ access on school days

CAIRO – 9 November 2019: A number of governors ordered the closure of dozens of cafes located around schools, in a bid to limit students’ access to them during the school day. This came after a clash developed between students and a school director over staying at the café and leaving their classes.

The incident took place in Wadi el-Gadid governorate, where students caused injuries in the school director’s head and body while he was trying to ban them from staying in the café.

Authorities noticed the high rate of smoking students at cafés nearby schools, thus, a decision was issued to withdraw licenses of these cafés, and those facilities that will re-open against the law will face harshened punishment.

In Sharqia, a total number of 23 violating facilities, including Cinemas, wedding halls and cafés located around schools were closed. Sharqia Governor Mamdouh Ghorab ordered to launch follow-up committees at schools to supervise the attendance among students and teachers.

In Wadi el-Gadid, concerted efforts between police stations, clubs and district heads are exerted to make sure there are no students on cafés throughout the school days.

Similar follow-up campaigns were launched at schools in Kafr el-Sheikh and Assiut governorates. Assiut Governor Gamal Nour el-Sin said that there is a continuous follow-up on schools across the governorate, adding that the “phenomenon [of students leaving schools and staying at cafés] has largely declined at different schools in the governorate.”