A surge in demand for school fee payments has led to widespread congestion at post offices across Egypt, with long queues and chaotic scenes reported in several governorates. The rush to pay fees for the upcoming academic year has put a strain on postal services, with many offices struggling to cope with the large numbers of parents seeking to make payments. In some areas, police were called in to help manage the crowds and maintain order.
In the governorate of Minya, queues stretched for several meters outside post offices, with some parents reporting waits of several hours. Tensions ran high, with altercations breaking out between individuals over priority for payment. Smiha Ali, a parent, expressed frustration at the situation, saying she had traveled 5 kilometers to the post office and had been waiting since early morning without being able to make the payment. She called for a more efficient system, suggesting that schools should have designated officials to collect fees and transfer them to post offices.
The congestion at post offices has been attributed to a combination of factors, including technical issues with payment systems and a shortage of staff. In some areas, post office officials reported that they were unable to cope with the large numbers of parents seeking to make payments, leading to delays and frustration. Mohamed Bahiri, a resident of Adweta, said that the post office in his town was woefully understaffed, with a tiny office expected to serve thousands of customers.
The problem was not limited to Minya, with reports of congestion and chaos at post offices in other governorates, including Gharbiya and Menoufia. In Gharbiya, residents of Shubra al-Numla village complained about a severe shortage of staff at the local post office, leading to long waits and difficulties in making payments. In Menoufia, queues formed outside post offices as the new academic year approached, with parents citing the requirement to pay fees before collecting school books.
The Egyptian government has introduced electronic payment systems to facilitate the payment of school fees, but technical issues have hindered the process. In the governorate of Dakahlia, a source at the Talikha post office reported that the electronic payment system had crashed due to high demand, preventing parents from making payments. The source said that technicians were working to resolve the issue and restore the system to normal functioning.
The congestion at post offices has highlighted the need for a more efficient system for collecting school fees. Many parents have expressed frustration at the current system, which requires them to travel long distances and wait for hours to make payments. There have been calls for schools to take over the collection of fees, which would alleviate the pressure on post offices and make the process more convenient for parents.
As the academic year begins, the Egyptian government faces the challenge of improving the efficiency of school fee collection and reducing congestion at post offices. With thousands of students and parents affected, finding a solution to this problem will be crucial to ensuring a smooth start to the new academic year.
Key points
- Long queues and congestion reported at post offices across Egypt as parents rush to pay school fees for the new academic year.
- Technical issues with payment systems and staff shortages have contributed to the congestion.
- Parents and officials are calling for a more efficient system for collecting school fees.
