Libya's Education Minister, Moussa al-Megarief, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison due to a textbook shortage
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Fines and Civil Rights: The Tripoli Court of Appeal fined Megarief 1,000 Libyan dinars (approximately $200) and revoked his civil rights for the duration of his sentence, plus an additional year.
Charges: Megarief was found guilty of violating the principle of equality, showing favoritism in contract management, and intervening on behalf of an unnamed party in connection with the printing of textbooks.
Background: The case stems from a critical shortage of school textbooks at the start of the 2021 academic year, forcing parents to rely on photocopies despite the government's commitment to providing books for free in public schools.
Investigation: Authorities launched an investigation into Megarief's handling of textbook procurement contracts and his role in the shortage. He was initially placed in preventive detention over alleged negligence in office but was later released due to a lack of evidence and reinstated as education minister.
Minister's Defense: Megarief defended himself by attributing the delay to efforts to unify Libya's school curriculum across its three regions, which he claimed disrupted payments to suppliers.
Despite his conviction, the Education Ministry posted an image of Megarief at work on its official Facebook page before the attorney general's announcement.
This sentencing highlights ongoing challenges within Libya's education sector and underscores the government's commitment to addressing corruption and ensuring the equitable distribution of educational resources.
