Higher Education Minister Hossam Eissa has said he does want to see the return of security forces on Egyptian university campuses, adding that both supporters and opponents of the 30 June uprising which ousted Mohamed Morsy from power would agree with him.
Eissa said his stance comes from a belief in the police role to protect areas outside universities.
In a phone call with a talk show on the privately-owned TV channel al-Mehwar, Eissa said student bodies would become further polarized if police forces returned to campuses. The academic year is going ahead as planned despite intermittent riots, he claimed.
The minister added that he plans to call on the Cabinet to toughen up security on campus, with measures including setting up electronic gates at entrances and bolstering on-campus security staff. The new measures could cost approximately LE50 million, Eissa said.
State-run media Al-Ahram meanwhile reported on Thursday how Ain Shams University head Hassan Eisa announced that a security-tightening protocol is expected to be signed with the Interior Ministry and Supreme Council of Universities (SCU).
The protocol would allow security forces to secure university premises, according to Eisa.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
