Libya’s Education Minister Sentenced Over Textbook Shortage Scandal

Libya’s education minister, Moussa al-Megarief, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison due to a textbook shortage from 2021. The court fined him 1,000 dinars and revoked his civil rights. The case involved accusations of favoritism in textbook printing contracts, impacting parents who had to pay for photocopies instead of receiving free textbooks.

The education minister of Libya, Moussa al-Megarief, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison due to a textbook shortage issue that emerged in 2021. The announcement was made by the attorney-general’s office on Sunday, revealing details of the case.

The Tripoli court of appeal also imposed a fine of 1,000 dinars (approximately $200) on Megarief and stripped him of his civil rights for the duration of his sentence, plus one additional year. This verdict stems from accusations of violating the principle of equality and favoritism in managing contracts regarding textbook printing.

The controversy surrounds the significant textbook shortage at the commencement of the 2021 school year, which compelled parents to incur costs by photocopying textbooks that should have been provided free of charge in public schools. An investigation followed to scrutinize Megarief’s handling of the contractual obligations for printing the textbooks.

Although initially detained, Megarief was later released due to insufficient evidence and continued to serve as the education minister. He defended himself by attributing the shortage to the unification of the school curriculum across Libya’s three regions, which he claimed caused delays in payments to suppliers.

In summary, Moussa al-Megarief’s conviction is a significant development in Libya’s education sector, reflecting the serious repercussions of administrative mismanagement. His sentence highlights crucial issues regarding educational resources and accountability within the government. The case underscores the importance of transparency in contract management to ensure adequate provision of educational materials for students.

Original Source: www.thenews.com.pk