The Ministry of Higher Education is no longer sponsoring local students to pursue their education in Egypt, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.

However, he told Bernama that the ministry would still continue sponsoring teaching staff who are continuing their studies in several noted universities overseas.

If Malaysian students still want to study in Egypt, Idris said it was their right to do so on their own.

Idris said it was understood that currently students in Egypt who are sponsored by the government were those finishing their studies there.

-- BERNAMA