Moussa al-Megarief, Libya’s education minister, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for mismanagement related to a 2021 textbook shortage. He received a fine and was stripped of civil rights. This case highlights significant accountability issues within Libya’s educational sector.
The education minister of Libya, Moussa al-Megarief, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison due to a textbook shortage that arose in 2021. The Tripoli court of appeal also imposed a fine of 1,000 dinars (approximately $200) and stripped him of civil rights for the duration of his sentence, along with an additional year post-release, as reported by the attorney-general’s office on social media.
Megarief, a member of the national unity government, faced accusations of violating principles of equality, favoritism in contract management, and advocating for an unnamed party in relation to textbook printing contracts. The textbook shortage became prominent at the beginning of the 2021 academic year, resulting in parents having to pay for photocopies of materials that should have been provided free of charge at public schools.
An investigation was initiated to scrutinize Megarief’s handling of contractual procedures related to textbook printing and the broader reasons behind the shortage. Although he was initially taken into custody, he was later released due to insufficient evidence and returned to his role as education minister. He attributed the textbook issues to efforts to unify the school curriculum across Libya’s three geographical regions, which he claimed delayed payments to suppliers.
In summary, Moussa al-Megarief, Libya’s education minister, received a prison sentence and fines due to mismanagement regarding textbook shortages that impacted public education in 2021. His case underscores ongoing challenges in Libya’s education sector and highlights issues of accountability within the national unity government. This scandal serves as a reminder of the need for effective management and oversight in educational resources.
Original Source: www.thenews.com.pk
