The Ministry of Education and Technical Education issued a decree late in August that mandates all licensed international schools to include Arabic as a subject at the kindergarten (KG) stage.

It also requires these schools to teach Arabic and Religious Studies to students in grades one through three in primary school, or their equivalents, following the curriculum used in Egyptian public schools.

In addition, the decree specifies that Arabic, Religious Studies, and Social Studies must be taught to primary school students from grade four to nine (third year of preparatory school), or their equivalents. Grades in Arabic and Social Studies will each constitute 10 percent of the overall grade at the end of each academic year.

According to the decree, Arabic, History, and Religious Studies must be taught to international school students from grade 10 (first year in high school) to grade 12 (final year in high school) or their equivalents according to study content specified by the Ministry of Education.

However, the decision, “which aims to deepen students’ connection to their Egyptian heritage” has sparked a heated debate among parents, educators, and officials.

While some praise the mandate as “a crucial measure” for preserving Egyptian culture and national history, others doubt its practicality and possible effects on students, especially high school students.

Support and optimism
 

Deputy Education Minister Ayman Bahaa El-Din has described the decision as “very important,” given that many international school students lack knowledge of the Arabic language and national history.

In televised remarks, Bahaa El-Din stated that this measure benefits students by protecting them from "recent trends promoting ideas that conflict with the Egyptian identity, such as homosexuality and moral decay".

Sherif, 42, the father of a second-grade student at a British school in Egypt praised the initiative, highlighting the importance of teaching these subjects to help maintain students' connection to their Egyptian roots.

“I have a very positive impression of this initiative because international schools in Egypt often struggle to teach these subjects. As parents, we are always working to teach our children proper Arabic beyond the school curriculum, as it's crucial for preserving our identity," the parent told Ahram Online.

He also believes incorporating such subjects into international school curricula would significantly enhance students' skills.

Criticism and Concerns
 

Critics, however, raise concerns about the practicality of these requirements.

“Foreign students are not fluent in Arabic and are not required to take courses in this subject or Social Studies and Religious Studies. This requirement could deter members of diplomatic missions from enrolling their children in international schools in Egypt," said Aliaa, 53, a mother of two students, one in elementary and the other in preparatory school, at a French school in Egypt.

Despite the challenging curricula in French schools, the mother strongly supports introducing these subjects, alongside History, in the early stages of education at international schools in Egypt.

However, Aliaa advises against adding these subjects in the final year of high school as they could impede students' performance and overwhelm them during an already critical and challenging year.

Education professionals also have mixed feelings.

Haiedy, a teacher at an American international school, described the decision as a "double-edged sword."

She told Ahram Online that the move will improve Arabic skills and strengthen students' understanding of their country’s history and religion, which they currently struggle with.

Unless the Arabic curriculum becomes more accessible and easier for students, Aliaa warned, Arabic could become a burden for students.

According to the Ministry of Education, Arabic and History will constitute 10 percent each of the overall grade for students earning their international certificate – equivalent to the General High School Certificate (Thanaweya amma) – determined through a general exam organized by the Ministry of Education.

However, Haiedy noted that parents will find it difficult to accept such a heavy academic load in international schools. She voiced deep concern about the increase of high school subjects from five to 11 or 12.

For his part, Bahaa El-Din reaffirmed that for the high school level, the ministerial decision allows for flexibility in how these subjects are taught, enabling the content to be distributed over two or three years or covered in a single year, depending on the international diploma system’s requirements.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Education said that for the American Diploma Certificate, students’ GPA constitutes 40 percent of the overall grade, American International Final Exams constitute 40 percent, and an examination combining Arabic and History 20 percent.

It also confirmed that this policy will apply to students from kindergarten (KG1) to the ninth grade, or its equivalent, starting the academic year 2024/2025. The policy will apply to tenth-grade students starting from the 2025/2026 academic year.

Implementation methods
 

Bahaa El-Din pointed out that the ministry’s decision aligns with Article 24 of the Egyptian constitution, which states that Arabic, Religious Studies, and national history are essential subjects in public and private pre-university education.

He also stressed that the decision mandates schools to teach curricula identical to those in public schools.

Several parents who spoke with Ahram Online agreed that the content of the new curricula and the methods of teaching these subjects is vital for benefiting students. However, they stressed the need for tailored strategies for international schools to ensure the initiative's effectiveness.

A preparatory school teacher at an international school in Egypt told Ahram Online that international schools should focus from the early stages of education on teaching reading, speaking, and writing in Arabic, emphasising simple grammar.

Ahram Online reached out to the Ministry of Education for further details on implementing the decision and potential plans to recruit new teachers for these subjects in international schools. However, the official spokesperson could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.