EGYPT CRISIS AFFECTS INDONESIAN STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP QUOTA

**Indonesian Students in Egypt.** Source: Keluarga Mahasiswa Aceh

Jakarta, 15 Sha’ban 1435/13 June 2014 (MINA) – The political conflict which occurred in Egypt since last year affected scholarship quota of Indonesian students to learn in the Middle East’s oldest university, Al-Azhar, Cairo.

The head of Cooperation Division, Directorate Genaral of University and College, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Bil Bachtiar said this year the scholarships quota for Indonesian students in the Egyptian university is less than in the previous years, while for non-scholarship quota runs as well.

“It could be because the situation in Egypt is not conducive yet and affects its economy, so it also affect our scholarship quota in this regard,”said Bil who graduated from magister degree of Al-Azhar University, in Jakarta, Thursday.

Bil added, Egypt government did not yet announced specific scholarship quota for Indonesian students this year. Last year, they also did not give scholarships quota for us following the overthrow of president Mohamed Mursi by the Defense Minister, Abdul Fattah al Sisi who has now been elected president of Egypt.

“I’d heard there are 10 students getting scholarships to Egypt, but there is no certainty yet until today,” he said.

He continues, there are about 2600 students who signed up for scholarship in Middle East countries this year. Indonesia sends students who received scholarships to the three large countries every year namely Egypt, Morocco and Sudan.

For Egypt, the quota changes anytime according to the country’s decision. For Morocco, 15 students get scholarship this years. While for Sudan, the quota reaches 50 students each year.

Previously, the Education Attache of Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, Fahmy Lukman said there are 3,800 Indonesian students who are nowadays studying in Egypt.

According to Bil, the selection test for students who want to get the scholarships in Middle East countries held in two phases, the First phase was on May 24, 2014 in eight cities; Medan, Pekanbaru, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Malang, Makassar, Banjarmasin, Samarinda.

He mentioned, the first stage of selection was held by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in cooperation with the alumni team of Al Azhar.

The second stage of selection was held in Jakarta on June 24, 2014 with the cooperation of Al Azhar University lecturer. (L/Syt/P03/P04/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)