مقالات

Journalist Dr. Magdy Kamel ElHawary writes : When Merit Becomes an Accusation The Crisis of the Kuwaiti Statement on Egyptian Students’ Excellence

• بواسطة يحي الداخلى
• 2026 Apr 24
• 39

At a time when academic excellence should be celebrated, a statement by a Kuwaiti lawyer sparked widespread controversy after calling for top student rankings to be reserved for Kuwaiti nationals only, raising serious questions about fairness and equal opportunity in education.

This position cannot be dismissed as a mere personal opinion. It reflects a dangerous shift from merit-based evaluation to nationality-based preference, which fundamentally contradicts the core principles of education.

Education does not recognize nationality or borders. It is built on effort and achievement, and those who attain the highest results deserve their place without discrimination.

Restricting excellence to a specific nationality undermines the value of knowledge and shifts competition from hard work to identity. This logic opens the door to broader forms of discrimination in  areas such as employment, scholarships, and public services.

If such thinking is accepted, it risks creating an unfair system that prioritizes belonging over competence.

The success of Egyptian students abroad is not a coincidence. It is the result of dedication, perseverance, and a strong culture of striving for achievement despite challenges.

This is not a problem that needs to be solved, but a success story that should be recognized and learned from by improving educational systems rather than limiting competition.

The issue here is not about defending a specific nationality, but about defending a universal principle: fairness is indivisible, and excellence should belong to those who earn it.

Today’s world is driven by competence. Nations that embrace fair competition move forward, while those that attempt to restrict success inevitably fall behind.

The real discussion should focus on improving education and raising student performance, not on preventing achievers from reaching the top.

• الوسوم
• Journalist
• Dr.
• Magdy
• Kamel
• ElHawary
• writes
• :
• When
• Merit
• Becomes
• an
• Accusation
• The
• Crisis
• of
• the
• Kuwaiti
• Statement
• on
• Egyptian
• Students’
• Excellence
• Journalist Dr. Magdy Kamel ElHawary writes : When Merit Becomes an Accusation The Crisis of the Kuwaiti Statement on Egyptian Students’ Excellence