The amendments are meant to toughen the financial punishments imposed on carers of students who skip school without a valid excuse, with parents or guardians who fail to prevent further truancy – within a week of being officially notified of their children's absence – facing EGP 500-1,000 fines.
The current punishment carries only a fine of EGP 10 on parents in such cases.
The new fines would be repeated if the students' absence continues as the new bill stipulated.
The proposed adjustments also allow suspending all or some public services provided by government offices for parents of chronically truant students until the children return to school.
The cabinet entrusted the justice minister with determining the aforementioned services and the suspension rules, according to the statement.
Children aged 6 to 18 undergo, under the Egyptian constitution, compulsory education at all stages of schooling -- elementary, secondary, and high school.
The cabinet's amendments are still pending the parliament approval.
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