Egypt's new education minister faces controversy over alleged fake PhD

Egypt's recent cabinet reshuffle, which saw the appointment of 13 new ministers and 16 new governors, has been overshadowed by a controversy over Education Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif's doctorate.

Mr Abdel Latif, who was previously executive director of the Nermin Ismail private school group, was accused of obtaining a fake doctorate.

Mr. Abdel Latif has not commented on the allegations.

Prominent lawyer Amr Abdel Salam filed an urgent request with the prosecution, demanding an immediate judicial investigation into the university where Mr. Abdel Latif claims to have obtained his doctorate.

According to the minister's new biography on the Department of Education website, he “received his PhD from Cardiff City University in the United States, and he also obtained a Masters in Educational Development from Lawrence University in the United States in 2012.”

However, after Mr. Abdel Latif's CV was widely circulated by several media outlets and on the firm's official page, Egyptian online fact-checkers raised concerns about the legitimacy of his doctoral degrees.

They said that while there is a reputable Cardiff University in Wales, there is no Cardiff City University in the United States.

Further investigation revealed the existence of a Cardiff City University Facebook page, which linked to a website offering university degrees at prices ranging from $5,000 for a degree to $10,000 for a PhD.

The website lacked information about the faculty or a physical campus and used an image of Trinity College, University of Cambridge.

The allegations have raised questions about the minister's integrity and the government's process for selecting cabinet members.

Egyptian public opinion and media are closely following developments, which could undermine confidence in the government's appointment process and the integrity of its ministers.

The cabinet reshuffle, ordered by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi last month, was aimed at bringing in new perspectives and expertise to tackle Egypt's challenges.

While several key figures retained their posts, significant changes were made in ministries such as foreign affairs, defence, finance, tourism and energy.

Updated: July 5, 2024, 5:47 a.m.