So you want to set up a new private or international school: The process of establishing a new private or international school in Egypt is relatively straightforward — albeit somewhat tedious and bureaucratic. We put together a simple guide on the steps and regulatory requirements a prospective investor needs to follow to set up an international or private school, as outlined by the Education Ministry (pdf).

First thing’s first: Decide which type of school — and which curriculum to follow: Before applying for government licensing, a prospective school founder must decide the curriculum or education system the school will administer, whether it’s the American Diploma, the British system and IGCSE, or the International Baccalaureate (IB). This will determine the steps you’ll need to follow and which body or organization you’ll apply to for accreditation.

Find and buy a plot of land: Once you’ve decided on the kind of school you plan to set up — as well as the planned size of the student body and the facilities you expect to include on the campus — it’s time to find a suitable plot of land. This process is often easier in new cities, since the initial city planning typically includes certain plots that are already dedicated to schools, education consultant Ahmed El Attar told Enterprise. “The paperwork might take less time in new cities because these plots are already planned for schools and pre-approved by authorities,” El Attar said.

How much does the land cost? The total price tag will naturally vary depending on the size of the plot and the selected area. Earlier this year, the New Urban Communities Authority issued tenders for land plots designated for nurseries and schools in different areas across Greater Cairo, with the prices ranging anywhere between EGP 1,735 per sqm to EGP 14,780 per sqm.

Now it’s time to get the licensing process underway: Start by applying for a license with the Education Ministry, which is required to give you a preliminary decision on the license application within 30 working days. If this time period elapses without a response, the application is considered to have received preliminary approval. Once the preliminary sign-off comes through, the prospective school owner needs to provide the education directorate with the detailed plan for the school. The directorate then sets up a specialized technical committee to assess the application within two months.

You’ll need some clearances from different ministries confirming that the land plot is cleared for building a school and doesn’t belong to any of the ministries. For example, the Antiquities Ministry needs to confirm that the land doesn’t house any antiquities, the Agriculture Ministry needs to confirm that the land isn’t meant for agriculture, and the Electricity Ministry must verify that building a school won’t interfere with electrical cables and infrastructure. Again, this process will be significantly easier if the land you’ve selected has specifically been allocated for building a school, since these are factors that are already considered before the land is allocated.

Pro tip: Get a lawyer or other representative to navigate the steps on your behalf. “This is crucial — forming a limited liability or investment company and then hiring a representative for the entity to handle all the paperwork and government approval” will be a big help, El Attar told Enterprise. “The process is tedious and it needs someone with experience,” he said.

The price tag: Private schools need to pay EGP 15k for a new license, in addition to EGP 5k each year to renew the license. For international schools, the fee is steeper, at EGP 30k for the initial license and EGP 25k for the annual renewal fee.

Timeline: This approval process typically takes anywhere between six months and a year if the land is pre-allocated for a school, and up to two years if it’s not allocated, according to El Attar. At the end of the process, the Education Ministry will issue a stamped and signed decree that gives legal authorization to open a school.

Once you get the approval, it’s time to get building: You’ll need to provide theGeneral Authority for Educational Buildings (GAEB) with detailed blueprints for the planned campus, including the dimensions for classrooms, staircases, hallways, playgrounds, labs, and any other facilities. The authority will put together a committee to inspect the construction plans and may also run an inspection halfway through the building process. The authority is “meticulous” in its inspection and ensures that the approved blueprints are implemented, El Attar noted. Discrepancies between the plans and the implementation could put schools at risk of getting their licenses revoked, he noted.

While the construction is underway, the school’s planned curriculum needs approval + certification: Schools need to secure approval from the Education Ministry for the books and curriculum they plan to administer. National private schools rely on the ministry-issued books for the national curriculum, which are straightforward to get approvals for. However, schools with an international curriculum need to meet specific standards for the curriculum, instruction, assessment process, and staff qualifications before securing certification from an international organization. The British Council is responsible for accrediting schools with a British curriculum, while the IBO is responsible for IB accreditation. American diploma schools, meanwhile, can get certified through the Council of International Schools or Cognia.

So, when is it time to open the doors for students? The government issues a stamped decree certifying that your school can legally operate once GAEB certifies that the school has been constructed correctly. That decree is the final all-clear to begin accepting students and operating the school. Schools can technically open up the admissions process before receiving the final decree, but this runs the risk of promising school seats to students and then not being denied final authorization from the government, El Attar noted.

Your top education stories for the week:

  • AUC, USAID announce scholarships for Egyptian public school students: Some 250 students will be granted scholarships for the upcoming 2023-2024 academic year to a number of public and private universities, AUC included. (Statement, pdf)
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