The Egyptian government centrally controls education in Egypt. There are government schools which teach in Arabic, as well as experimental language schools which teach in English or French. Many Egyptian parents choose to send their children to private schools. There are 3 levels of schooling: basic, secondary, and post-secondary. At the basic level, education is free and compulsory for students ages 6 through 16. The basic level includes primary, which is similar to American elementary school, and preparatory, which is like middle school. Primary school gives the students a foundation in math, science, and language arts. Islamic religious instruction is an important part of the curriculum, however since we went to private Christian school, we did not not have to study that. Students also learn what it means to be a good citizen. At the preparatory level, students begin to think about their career goals. They follow a program that will take them to further academic study or vocational training. Students who go on to secondary school receive specialized instruction in particular subject areas. Secondary school is often very stressful for the children and expensive for the parents. After secondary school, students may go to college. Egypt has public universities, which are free, and private universities, which charge tuition. In fact, Alexandria, Egypt has one of the oldest universities in the world.
Since we went to a private Christian school, we can speak of our experience there. The teacher travels from class to class, while the students stay in one room. We have nine periods each day. Boys and girls do not go to school together. We have to wear uniforms to school.
In Egypt, the students have a lot of respect for the teachers. When the teacher comes into the classroom, the students stand up and say, "Good morning." The teachers are not allowed to hit the students, and the students must raise their hands any time they want to say something.
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Literacy:
total population: 71.4%
male: 83%
female: 59.4%