Professors reject Sisi’s amendment to university law

University professors denounced Sisi’s presidential decree, issued on Tuesday — which mandates that university heads and department heads are to be appointed by the president — deeming the decision to be unconstitutional and undemocratic.

After an amendment to the university law was adopted in 2012, presidents and department heads were elected by faculty.

From 1994 to 2012, presidents of universities were appointed by the president and department heads were appointed by university presidents.

Giving the president the authority to appoint department heads is unprecedented in Egypt.

“This decision shows a flagrant disrespect for the Constitution, which stipulates the independence of universities, and is a clear declaration of a dictatorial path for Sisi’s regime,” Hany al-Hosseiny, a Cairo University Professor and member of the March 9 movement for the independence of universities told Mada Masr.

Article 21 of the constitution, passed last January, states that, “The state shall guarantee the independence of universities and linguistic and scientific institutions.”

According to the recent amendment to the law, the president will appoint university heads from among three candidates chosen by a committee, to be formed by the education minister with the approval of the Supreme Council of Universities. The term set for university heads is four years and is renewable. The amendment also allows the president to terminate the appointment before its end with the approval of the Supreme Council of Universities, “if he/she violates his/her duties towards the university and/or their presidential responsibilities.”

The heads of departments are to be appointed using the same mechanism, giving the university head the power to terminate the tenure of department heads if they violate their duties and responsibilities.

According to Hosseiny, the decision marks an abandonment of even the void formalities that the Mubarak regime adopted to give a false image of independence to universities.

Hosseiny said this is the first time an amendment is made to the university law with no prior consultation with university councils. He said that, while Mubarak’s regime frequently ignored the recommendations made by universities, it always followed the courtesy of presenting the amendments to university councils before they were passed.

He maintained that the period prior to 2012, when the appointment system was adopted, witnessed the worst deterioration in Egyptian universities, adding that Sisi's decision is a continuation of the state’s perception of universities as political battle fields rather than educational institutions.

“The political leadership since Nasser’s era doesn’t regard universities as academic and research institutions and there were never amendments made to the university law to enhance education, they were always aimed at improving the grip of the authorities on universities,” he said.

Over 20 students have been killed in violent clashes that have swept universities nationwide since September.

Mohamed Mohey al-Din, former Shura Council member and engineering professor, said that it is unacceptable for the president to appoint department heads. He added that Sisi should remember that universities are not military units and that he has to realize that he is the president of a civil state and respect its Constitution.