The ministry said the 2026/2027 academic year will also be the final year in which second-year secondary students may transfer to schools that apply special-nature or international curricula.
From the 2027/2028 academic year, transfers to the secondary stage at international schools will be limited to students applying to join the first year of secondary school only.
The ministry said the new regulations are part of its plan to develop Egypt's pre-university education system, improve learning outcomes, and strengthen oversight of the education system.
It added that an official directive has been sent to all education directorates nationwide to regulate transfer procedures for international schools at the secondary stage, ensuring the proper implementation of educational systems and equal opportunities for students.
The ministry said the decision falls within its responsibility to supervise all pre-university educational institutions and oversee admissions, enrolment, and transfer regulations.
It explained that secondary-level programmes at international schools are based on a sequential and cumulative academic track that begins in the first year of secondary school.
Students, the ministry noted, are required to study the programme from its outset to meet qualification requirements and complete their studies in line with the regulations governing each international education system.
It warned that allowing students to transfer into such schools in the second or third year of secondary education could disrupt programme requirements, affect the proper implementation of accredited educational systems, and undermine equal opportunities among students.
Under the new regulations, third-year secondary transfers to international schools will be banned from the start of the 2026/2027 academic year.
The 2026/2027 academic year will be the last year in which second-year secondary transfers to international schools will be accepted.
From the 2027/2028 academic year, transfers to the secondary stage at international schools will be restricted to students applying for the first year of secondary school.
The ministry noted that transfers to the first year of secondary school for the 2026/2027 academic year at international schools will continue to be accepted in accordance with the rules and regulations approved by the ministry.
It also instructed all educational administrations and international schools to implement the new rules accurately.
Any procedure carried out in violation of the regulations will result in the official responsible for issuing, approving, or implementing the decision being investigated by the ministry’s General Department of Legal Affairs, the statement said.
The ministry stated that the new measures aim to ensure the proper implementation of international education systems, uphold institutional discipline, protect students’ rights, and uphold the principles of justice and equality within Egypt’s education system.
The decision comes amid broader changes to Egypt's secondary education system, one of the country's most sensitive education files because final school grades determine university admission and strongly influence students' academic and career paths.
Egypt has been restructuring secondary education through new curricula, expanded school pathways, and the optional Egyptian Baccalaureate track, which officials say is designed to reduce pressure on families, move away from rote memorization, and introduce more flexible assessment methods.
The ministry has also been tightening oversight of school admissions, transfers, attendance, and examination procedures as part of a broader push to restore discipline in schools and ensure that students complete each academic track in accordance with the rules set for that track.
International school programmes at the secondary stage typically follow cumulative academic requirements over several years, including subject sequencing, credit accumulation, assessment rules, and external examination requirements.
The ministry’s new rules indicate that late transfers into the second or third year could leave some students with insufficient time to meet those requirements or create unequal conditions compared with students who began the track in the first year of secondary school.
The move also comes as demand for alternative and internationally oriented education models continues to grow in Egypt.
The ministry opened applications for International Public Schools for the 2026/2027 academic year in January, describing them as a government model that offers international curricula in English while maintaining national subjects such as Arabic, religion, and social studies.
In recent years, Egypt has also expanded applied technology schools, Japanese-style schools, Egyptian-German schools, and other specialized models as part of a policy to diversify pre-university education and better link graduates’ skills with labour-market needs.
For families, the new regulations mean the choice to move into an international secondary programme will increasingly have to be made earlier.
From the 2027/2028 academic year, students seeking to join the secondary stage at international schools will have to enter from the first year, rather than switching in during the final two years before graduation.
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