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Education in Egypt

Explore the essentials of Egypt's education system, from its oversight by the Ministry of Education and specialized centers to the structured stages from Nursery to University. Understand the distinction between government and private schools, the focus on early education, and the preparation for higher education, including the role of Cairo University as a leading institution.

Education in Egypt - Egypt Travel and Tours

Summary

  • The Ministry of Education in Egypt oversees the education system, aided by three centers focused on curriculum development, education research, examinations, and educational evaluation.
  • Egypt's education system is divided into six main stages: Nursery, Kindergarten, Primary School, Preparatory School, Secondary School, and Higher Education Level (University).
  • Egypt has both government and private schools, with public education at schools and universities being free.
  • At the Nursery and Kindergarten stages, emphasis is placed on play, basic literacy, numeracy, and social skills, with activities designed to build personality and skills from an early age.
  • Secondary education offers general, technical, and Al-Azhar (Islamic religious) tracks, preparing students for various fields in higher education, where Egypt boasts around 42 universities, including the top-ranked Cairo University.

Education in Egypt is a very important subject that sheds some light on how minds in Egypt are shaped. The goal of this article is to offer every traveler the chance to understand Egypt's educational system. All the information and details in this article are written by a group of very knowledgeable researchers in Egypt. The future of any nation is determined by the level of Education provided to the next generation, which is the building block for the future.

The Ministry of Education is responsible for making decisions about the education system with the support of three Centers: the National Center for Curricula Development, the National Center for Education Research, and the National Center for Examinations and Educational Evaluation. Each center has its own job, turn, and function. On the other hand, the Ministry of Higher Education supervises the Higher education system. Education in Egypt can be classified into six main sections:

  1. Nursery (Baby Class)
  2. Kindergarten
  3. Primary School
  4. Preparatory School (Middle School)
  5. Secondary School (High School)
  6. High Education Level (University)

There are two types of schools in Egypt: government schools and private schools. Education in Egypt at public or governmental Schools and universities is free. Here are the basic stages of education in Egypt, with more details about each stage:

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 1- Nursery Stage

Nursery Stage - Education in Egypt - Egypt Travel and Tours
Nursery Stage - Education in Egypt - Egypt Travel and Tours

Talking about the nursery stage is going to take too much time, and visiting one of the nurseries in Egypt is going to add so much fun to your Egypt tours; watching our kids while they are playing and creating new ideas in their lives will make your tour in Egypt completely different. Kids start to join nurseries at about two years and six months, which is very difficult for both the mum and the kid.

That’s why if you visit a nursery during the first week of September, you can find all the mothers waiting for their kids outside classrooms where they refuse to get back home without kids during the first week of study, and this stage just takes one year then the kids can move to Kindergarten stage. 

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2- Kindergarten

Kindergarten - Education in Egypt - Egypt Travel and Tours
Kindergarten - Education in Egypt - Egypt Travel and Tours

Our kids join this stage when they are three years and six months old, and this stage takes two years. In this stage, the children may be asked to recognize the shape of the letters and numbers in Arabic and English by the end of the first year when the child becomes able to write his name. During the second year of this stage, kids recognize many short words like names of fruits, vegetables, and animals in Arabic and English. The Kindergarten management offers so many activities for kids, like sports, social, and tour activities.

By the end of this stage, kids are able to sing about 20 English songs, know at least more than 100 English words besides Arabic, and can calculate 2-digit numbers by additions. It is a very important and difficult stage which enables the kid to build his personality and skills, and it depends on the well-educated teachers who are very clever and skilled enough to deal with kids in their early life and make them feel better, all teachers in this stage are females.

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3- Primary Schools

Primary Schools - Education in Egypt - Egypt Travel and Tours
Primary Schools - Education in Egypt - Egypt Travel and Tours

The students get confused when they move from Kindergarten to primary school as students are asked to write and do homework. They also have to learn one more foreign language, mostly English. They can recognize part of their Egyptian History and the main organs of the Human body; also, Mathematics is a very important subject during this stage.

Physical Education was very important during this stage. Also, schools cared about organizing trips to many places and sightseeing inside Egypt. The student spends six years to finish primary school, then moves to Preparatory School.

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4- Preparatory Schools

Preparatory Schools - Education in Egypt - Egypt Travel and Tours
Preparatory Schools - Education in Egypt - Egypt Travel and Tours

It takes three years to finish, and it’s harder than primary school. The student studies more subjects like geography, geometry, science, foreign languages, and religion as well so that they can decide after finishing those three years which part the children can choose in secondary school.

Preparatory school in Egypt is acknowledged for its increased difficulty level compared to primary school. This phase challenges students to adapt to a more demanding academic environment, develop effective study habits, and hone their time management skills. The diverse curriculum not only broadens their knowledge but also plays a crucial role in shaping their critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and decision-making regarding their future educational and career paths.

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5- Secondary Schools

Secondary Schools - Education in Egypt - Egypt Travel and Tours
Secondary Schools - Education in Egypt - Egypt Travel and Tours

There are three types of upper secondary schools:

  1. General secondary education schools.
  2. Al-Azhar Secondary Education schools.
  3. Technical Secondary schools.

General Secondary Education Schools

It offers academic programs in preparation for higher education, like university and college. In the General Education sector, there are two streams that students can choose from: Scientific or Literary. Both streams include English and Arabic as mandatory subjects, in addition to streamed subjects as follows:

The Scientific Section includes Mathematics, physics, biology, and chemistry, while the Literary section includes Arts, history, geography, and home economics.

Elective Subjects include environmental sciences, social studies, national studies, philosophy, psychology, music, and European languages. These subjects are chosen based on the student’s intended tertiary-level specialization. Schools also offer other European languages, generally French, German, Italian, or Spanish. It also takes three years to finish after those students are ready to join one of the faculties they prefer based on their final scores.

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Al Azhar Secondary Schools

It offers academic programs with an emphasis on Islamic religious instruction. The Ministry of Education in Egypt reduced the number of secondary school years from 4 to 3 years in 1998 to make education in the Al Azhar system appropriate with the general secondary education system.

Technical Secondary Schools

A different type of secondary school that offers technical and vocational programs where students specialize in one of three streams lasting three to five years: Technical, Industrial, or Agricultural.

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6- High Education (University)

High Education - Education in Egypt - Egypt Travel and Tours
High Education - Education in Egypt - Egypt Travel and Tours

In Egypt, we have about 42 universities, 20 public universities with 2 million students and 22 private that each year include about 1 million students each. The top university in Egypt is Cairo University, which was established in 1902 by King Fouad I. Education in Egypt is an important tool to meet all our needs and seek a better life; it helps people face the challenges of life.

Cairo University stands out as the top university in Egypt. Founded in 1902 by King Fouad I, it has a storied history of academic excellence and has been a cornerstone of higher education in the Middle East. As a leading educational institution, Cairo University offers a broad spectrum of programs across various disciplines, fostering research, innovation, and advanced learning among its students.

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Discover the Rich Landmarks that Shape the Education of Egypt

There is no greater school to explore what Egypt has to offer from ancient history, archaeology, architecture, anthropology, religion, and art than with “Egypt Travel and Tours“. Are you looking for the best school tours to explore what Egypt has to offer, from ancient history, archaeology, architecture, anthropology, religion, and art? Then with "Egypt Travel and Tours", all students will have an exciting, pleasurable, and informative adventure through our Egypt private tours where you can visit the best sites in Egypt, such as the famous religious institute of Al Azhar, the enchanting schools of Khan El Khalili, and you can discover all the hidden information about education in Ancient Egypt with an expert tour guide. Don't miss our chance and book us now:

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the education like in Egypt?

The public education system consists of three stages: the first one is the basic education stage for 4 to 14-year-olds kindergarten for two years followed by the second stage primary school for five years and preparatory school for three years; the secondary school stage for three years, generally for ages 14 to 17; and lastly the university.

Does Egypt have free school?

Education in Egypt is free. Kindergarten, elementary schools, and Public universities are financed by the government, which has earmarked 4 percent of gross domestic product about $11 billion for education.

How many years of school are required in Egypt?

Egypt's constitution obligates the Egyptian government to offer free and compulsory education for all children between the ages of 6 and 15, although there are plans to eventually extend compulsory education to secondary education (12 years of schooling)

What Are the Finest Destinations to Visit in Egypt?

The entire country of Egypt deserve to be explored with its every heavenly detail but there are places that must be seen before any other such as the breathtaking Hurghada's red sea, The wonders of Cairo the pyramids of Giza, the great sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, Khan El Khalili Bazaar, the wonders of Luxor like Valley of the Kings, Karnak & Hatshepsut temple and the wonders of Aswan such as Abu Simbel temples, Philea temple, Unfinished obelisk and The Wonders of Alexandria like Qaitbat Citadel, Pompey's Pillar and Alexandria Library. Read more about the best places to visit in Egypt.

What Are Egypt's Visa Requirements?

If you want to apply for a Visa On Arrival that lasts for 30 days then you should be one of the eligible countries, have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and pay 25$ USD in cash, as for the E-Visa for 30 day you should have a valid passport for at least 8 months, complete the online application, pay the e-visa fee then print the e-visa to later be presented to the airport border guard. You could also be one of the lucky ones who can obtain a free visa for 90 days. Read more about Egypt travel visa.

What Is the Top Traditional Egyptian Food?

Egypt has a variety of delicious cuisines but we recommend “Ful & Ta’meya (Fava Beans and Falafel)”, Mulukhiya, “Koshary”, a traditional Egyptian pasta dish, and Kebab & Kofta, the Egyptian traditional meat dish.

What is the Best Time to Visit Egypt?

The best time to travel to Egypt is during the winter from September to April as the climate becomes a little tropical accompanied by a magical atmosphere of warm weather with a winter breeze. You will be notified in the week of your trip if the Climate is unsafe and if any changes have been made.

What to Pack for Your Egypt Tour?

You should pack everything you could ever need in a small bag so you could move easily between your destinations.

Why Book With "Egypt Travel and Tours"?

We have been creating the finest vacations for more than 20 years around the most majestic destinations in Egypt. Our staff consists of the best operators, guides and drivers who dedicate all of their time & effort to make you have the perfect vacation. All of our tours are customized by Travel, Financial & Time consultants to fit your every possible need during your vacation. It doesn't go without saying that your safety and comfort are our main priority and all of our resources will be directed to provide the finest atmosphere until you return home.

Is it Safe to Travel to Egypt?

You will feel safe in Egypt as the current atmosphere of the country is quite peaceful after the government took powerful measures like restructuring the entire tourist police to include all the important and tourist attractions in Egypt. Read more about is it safe to travel to Egypt.

What to Wear While in Egypt?

Wear whatever feels right and comfortable. It is advised to wear something light and comfortable footwear like a closed-toe shoe to sustain the terrain of Egypt. Put on sun block during your time in Egypt in the summer to protect yourself from the sun.

What are the Best Activities to Do in Egypt?

The best activity is by far boarding a Nile Cruise between Luxor and Aswan or Vise Versa. Witness the beauty of Egypt from a hot balloon or a plane and try all the delicious Egyptian cuisines and drinks plus shopping in old Cairo. Explore the allure and wonders of the red sea in the magical city resorts of Egypt like Hurghada and many more by diving and snorkeling in the marine life or Hurghada. Behold the mesmerizing western desert by a safari trip under the heavenly Egyptian skies.

What are Egypt Festival and Public Holidays?

There are a lot of public holidays in Egypt too many to count either religious or nation, the most important festivals are the holy month of Ramadan which ends with Eid Al Fitr, Christmas and new years eve. Read more about festivals & publich holidays in Egypt.

What are Special Advice for Foreign Women in Egypt?

Egypt is considered to be one of the most liberal Islamic countries but it has become a little bit conservative in the last couple of decades so it is advised to avoid showing your chest, shoulders or legs below the knees.

What are the Official Languages of Egypt?

Arabic is the official language and Most Egyptians, who live in the cities, speak or understand English or at least some English words or phrases. Fewer Egyptians can speak French, Italian, Spanish, and German. Professional tour guides, who work in the tourism sector, are equipped to handle visitors who cannot speak Arabic and they will speak enough English and other languages to fulfill the needs of all our clients.

What is the Transportation in Egypt?

The fastest way is a car, of course, a taxi. If you are in Cairo ride a white taxi to move faster or you could board the fastest way of transportation in Egypt metro if the roads are in rush hour.

What is the Weather is Like?

The temperature in Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c. Summer in Egypt is somehow hot but sometimes it becomes cold at night and winter is cool and mild. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 °C in the wintertime to 23 °C in the summertime and the average high temperatures vary from 17 °C in the wintertime to 32 °C in the summertime. The temperature is moderate all along the coasts.

What are the Reasons That Make You Visit Egypt?

It is the home of everything a traveler might be looking for from amazing historical sites dating to more than 4000 years to enchanting city resorts & beaches. You will live the vacation you deserve as Egypt has everything you could possibly imagine.

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