File Photo: Students lining up in a school. Press photo
Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber confirmed that the governorate has completed its preparations for the new year, stressing that all textbooks are available for every grade level.
In a statement issued Sunday by the governorate, Saber also emphasized the need for coordination between the Education Directorate, district heads, sanitation authorities, and the police to ensure schools are free of street vendors and encroachments.
He said surroundings must be kept clean, with principals responsible for removing posters and graffiti, maintaining paintwork, expanding green spaces, trimming trees, repairing restrooms, and disinfecting water tanks.
Civil defence standards must also be met, with ongoing safety checks across all facilities, he added.
Operational and security directives
The Ministry of Education has issued a 24-point circular to reinforce discipline and security.
It said schools must start lessons on the first day without delay, with daily attendance recorded and parents informed of absences.
The 2024 discipline code bans all physical or psychological punishment, and students are required to wear the approved uniform.
To ensure safety, school gates are to be locked after the morning assembly, visitor IDs are to be checked, and all students are to be accounted for before departure.
Crisis management committees must be activated in every school in coordination with local authorities and security forces.
Unauthorized fees, private tutoring inside schools, and commercial or political activity on school grounds are strictly prohibited.
Social support and health campaigns
The government has expanded its Ahlan Madaris 2025 (back-to-school) fairs, offering discounts of up to 30 percent on supplies to ease the burden on families.
In Cairo, the leading fair in Nasr City will run until 22 September.
In parallel, health initiatives such as “Check on Your Child” will provide annual medical screenings for students. At the same time, the Health Ministry has opened applications for new technical nursing schools and released an updated list of accredited private nursing institutions.
Universities
Egypt’s public and private universities will also begin on 20 September, as set by the Supreme Council of Universities.
The first semester will conclude on 22 January, followed by a mid-year break, after which the second semester will continue until 11 June 2026.
The country’s higher education system currently serves about 3.8 million students.
Of these, around 2.4 million are enrolled in public and Al-Azhar universities, nearly 386,000 study in private and national universities, and around 200,000 in technical institutes.
In addition, Egypt hosts approximately 125,000 international students from over 100 countries, underscoring its role as a regional academic hub.
Cairo University has renovated lecture halls, laboratories, libraries, dormitories, and sports facilities, while expanding internet access across campus.
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