The government is now requiring all private schools to implement the new Egyptian baccalaureate system and to obtain a license from the Education Ministry to teach this system for the first time as an optional track alongside the Thanaweya Amma system. Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly issued a decree seen by EnterpriseAM setting the rules for implementing the new system in private schools — including both Arabic and language schools.

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Under the new rules:

  • Private schools must have the qualified staff, technical facilities, and resources required for the baccalaureate system, in line with the standards applied in comparable public schools.
  • The license to operate the baccalaureate system in private schools will be issued by the Education Ministry.
  • The baccalaureate will be applied under the same rules governing public schools following the same system, especially regarding curricula, examination systems, examinations, and fees for taking exams.
  • Licensed private schools must allow students to choose freely between enrolling in the baccalaureate or the Thanaweya Amma system.
  • Private schools may not collect any additional fees for a student choosing to join the baccalaureate system.
  • The Education Ministry and the relevant educational directorates will be responsible for monitoring and supervising compliance with the system’s requirements and regulations.

REMEMBER- The House Education Committee approved amendments to the Education Law in July that introduce a new baccalaureate system. The proposed system, which will run alongside Thanaweya Amma rather than replacing it, will be optional, without charge, and structured over three years after preparatory school. Students will choose from core and elective subjects aligned with their interests and career goals, with the ability to retake exams multiple times to ensure readiness for university and the job market.

According to the decree, private schools that meet the requirements are allowed to obtain an official license to implement the baccalaureate system, provided that students have obtained the Edadiya certificate or an equivalent foreign preparatory education certificate, and that schools comply with the national school code, as well as the technical and educational standards required to teach the curriculum following baccalaureate criteria. Private schools adopting this system will be under the full administrative and technical supervision of the Private Education Department at the Education Ministry.

The new Egyptian baccalaureate system is currently undergoing international accreditation, Education Ministry Spokesperson Shady Zalata told EnterpriseAM. The system will meet all students’ educational needs, as the baccalaureate is a globally recognized framework, he said. It will be optional in Egypt, meaning both systems will be available for students to choose from, with no specific schools dedicated exclusively to the baccalaureate.

All private schools under the Private School Owners Association are open to the introduction of the new baccalaureate system and are seeking licenses from the ministry to implement it, Deputy Chairman Badawy Allam told EnterpriseAM. The association believes that the new system is important, as it will gradually eliminate private tutoring, restore student confidence in Egypt’s education system, and reduce the number of subjects, shifting focus to understanding and comprehension, Allam said. The system is also set to incorporate tech and artificial intelligence tools to enhance learning outcomes.

What advantages is the baccalaureate offering? The new system divides academic subjects over two years instead of one, giving students more time and chances to improve their grades and achieve higher results, according to Allam.The international accreditation of the baccalaureate will also support the prospects of students who wish to continue their studies abroad. The system also includes all the features of international education in terms of subject structure and curriculum design, enhancing overall education quality.

A comprehensive survey of private schools showed that 100% of students opted for the baccalaureate system instead of the Thanaweya Amma, Allam revealed. This overwhelming preference encouraged schools to apply for licenses to teach the new system.

Are we heading towards the end of the traditional Thanaweya Amma? “All indications point to the inevitable end of Egypt’s Thanaweya Amma,” Allam told us, noting that it has caused stress for Egyptian families for years. Interest in Thanaweya Amma has been declining in both public and private schools, he added.

Reducing financial and administrative burdens on private schools: Private schools support the new system, as it allows them to restructure their administrative and operational costs, a source at a private school, who asked not to be named, told EnterpriseAM. The cost of running educational operations in the new baccalaureate system is relatively lower than under the Thanaweya Amma, especially since most parents have chosen the baccalaureate for its easier structure compared to the alternative system. If the new system succeeds, it will help raise the standards of private schools by improving staff competence in core subjects, which in turn will enhance the overall quality of education, the source added.

REMEMBER- The baccalaureate system includes four main study tracks: engineering and computer science, medicine and life sciences, arts and humanities, business and economics. Students are also allowed to study additional subjects at any level if they wish to pursue multiple tracks after completing their primary specialization.

DIVE DEEPER- We covered the ins and outs of the new system in a Blackboard published earlier this year.

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