“Qena Heritage Schools”: Abandoned Palaces and Others Awaiting Demolition

In Qena, stories are not limited to temples and monuments, but also extend to Qena Heritage Schools that were once beacons of knowledge and centers for building generations. These are ancient buildings whose walls bear the marks of time. Their courtyards echo with the laughter and noise of the students who passed through them. But today, these schools face the threat of extinction, as neglect and a lack of restoration and maintenance have turned them into silent ruins. Some have been closed, others are caught up in legal disputes, while a large number of them stand on the brink of oblivion. Bab Masr attempts to trace the fate of these heritage educational buildings, which are part of the identity and living memory of Qena Governorate.