“Zero student” vows to continue fighting for her rights

Friday 18-09-2015 08:36 PM
“Zero student” vows to continue fighting for her rights
By

CAIRO, Sep 17 (Aswat Masriya) – Schoolgirl Mariam Malak was determined to contest the results of a second forensic committee that ruled agianst her on Wednesday, meaning that her results will stand despite her allegations of corruption. 

During a solidarity protest on the steps of the Journalists Syndicate, Malak applead to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to intervene in her case.

Last July the star pupil from the Upper Egyptian province of Assiut had contested her high school exam scores, claiming that her answer sheets were switched with another student's.

Her first appeal was denied in August when another government-appointed forensics committee in her hometown ruled that the handwriting on the failed exam sheets matched hers.

On Thursday her lawyer Ehab Ramzy demanded the formation of an independent committee of university professors to examine the sheets for the third time, adding that "the truth can be seen with the naked eye".

Malak, a top student according to her results in previous years - 96 and 98 percent in her first two years of high school -  was shocked at receiving a zero in every single one of her seven final exams, barring her from her dream of pursuing university studies at medical school.

Her case sparked controversy nationwide when she accused the ministry of education of corruption.

The outpouring of support for her caught the attention of former Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb who met Malak earlier this month, promising that justice will be served.

Mehleb's cabinet resigned on Saturday amid a corruption scandal in the Ministry of Agriculture. 

An Administrative Court is scheduled to look into Malak's case on Sept. 28.

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