Education in Egypt
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Education in Egypt is compulsory for nine academic years, from ages 4 to 14, and the constitution guarantees free education at all levels in government-run schools and public universities. There are no formal admissions requirements for enrollment in public elementary schools. Although public education is technically free, these schools still impose small fees. These fees can range from 210 to 520 Egyptian pounds (approximately US$5–10) per year, though they are waived for some low-income students. The public education system in Egypt is structured into three levels. The basic education stage serves children aged 4 to 14 and includes kindergarten for two years, followed by primary school for six years and preparatory school for three years. This is followed by the secondary education stage, which lasts three years for students aged 15 to 17, leading to the tertiary level.
Egypt observes a Friday-Saturday weekend, with the majority of schools operating from Sunday to Thursday. However, some private institutions may follow a different schedule, like Saturday to Wednesday. In addition to official state holidays, both religious and secular, the academic calendar includes two primary vacation periods. Summer vacation typically commences in early to mid-June and extends until approximately mid-September, while winter vacation spans from mid-January to early February.
Egypt has achieved near-universal primary school enrollment, while secondary school enrollment reached 86% in 2021.
The overall literacy rate in Egypt was 72 percent as of 2010, with a gender breakdown of 80.3 percent for males and 63.5 percent for females. Both the government and various NGOs have placed significant emphasis on reducing gender disparities in education and on achieving the 2015 Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education.
With support from the World Bank and other multilateral organizations, Egypt aims to expand early childhood education and integrate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at all levels, particularly in higher education. Public expenditure on education accounts for 5.3% of total spending as of fiscal year 2024/2025.
The Human Rights Measurement Initiative reports that Egypt achieves 65.5% of what should be possible for the right to education, relative to its income level.