Egypt's endowment ministry has announced volunteering opportunities for the position of women preachers, in cooperation with the National Council for Women.

The announcement, published on Tuesday on the ministry's website, called for women interested in either "preaching, teaching preventive medicine or human development" to work in women-only sections of mosques, forums, and lectures.

Last year, a series of decrees by former interim president Adly Mansour and the endowments ministry tightened the government's control over mosques and preachers.

The deccrees aimed to stop the spread of "extremist ideas" and politically-motivated sermons in mosques, and stipulated that all mosques be placed under the ministry's supervision, including small side-street praying areas.

The ministry also issued directives to all its licenced preachers to unify Friday prayers' sermons across the country.

Individuals without official permits from the ministry are not allowed to preach in mosques and face up to a year in jail and a fine of up to LE50, 000 (around $7, 000).

Women in Egypt traditionally volunteer to give religious lectures to other women in mosques or teach the Quran to children.