Why one Egyptian MP wants to send his colleagues back to school
MP Mohammed Anwar Sadat has called for the establishment of an academy to educate new legislators in a variety of fields, but not everyone is pleased with the proposal.
CAIRO — Egypt’s legislators will be going back to school if one member of parliament's proposal passes — but given the plan’s controversial nature, they should be strong debaters by the time they get there.
Mohammed Anwar Sadat, president of the Reform and Development Party, wants to establish an academy for parliamentarians. The school would help members of parliament better conduct their oversight and legislative duties, he said, particularly new members who have never performed such tasks.
Sadat stressed that oversight and legislation require tools that must be properly used to safeguard the public’s rights and solve problems. Sadat’s proposal is causing widespread debate, both inside parliament and among political observers.
In explaining his idea, Sadat told Al-Monitor that “the idea involves establishing an educational academy attached to the parliament building … and contracting with faculty members who specialize in the relevant disciplines such as law, constitution, finance, economy, etc.”
