Prime Minister Omar Razzaz has issued the Defence Orders (7) and (8) under Defence Law No. 13 of 1992 during a press briefing at the National Center for Security and Crisis Management today. 

The Defence Order No. 7 is concerned with organizing school and university education and vocational training remotely and student evaluation mechanisms, while Defence Order No. 8 is concerned with taking measures to protect public health and reduce the spread of coronavirus.

" Defence Order (7) will not affect universities' independence," Razzaz confirmed. 

"A set of measures will be announced to mitigate the crisis's repercussions on citizens," Razzaz said, confirming that the measures will not lift the curfew, but give certain sectors more facilitations.

"Another package of measures will be announced tomorrow to protect workers and the economy," the Prime Minister confirmed. 

For his part, Minister of Education Tayseer Noami stressed that the Defence Order (7) came to broaden the form and concept of distance education as a regular process.

He added distance learning provides a platform and flexibility to introduce forms of school exams, adding that the Defence Order will grant the Ministry flexibility and wider powers regarding Tawjihi students.

However, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Mohieldin Touq, confirmed that universities will standardize procedures in terms of marks distribution to achieve equality.

The Interior Minister, Salameh Hammad stated that the Defence Order (8) was issued to address new practices and violations.

He mentioned that deterrent measures will be applied to deal with any new phenomenon.

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