Minister of Education Participates in the World Conference on Health, Population
In the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Mr. Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education, participated today in a session entitled "Human Development: Empowerment, Opportunities, and the Future." This session was part of the third edition of the World Conference on Health, Population, and Human Development (PHDC 2025), held under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi from November 12 to 15, 2025, in the New Administrative Capital.
The session was chaired by Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population, with the participation of Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning and Economic Development; Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports; Dr. Mohamed Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Mr. Mohamed Gabran, Minister of Labor; Dr. Maya Mohamed Morsi, Minister of Social Solidarity; Dr. Ahmed Fouad Henou, Minister of Culture; and Colonel Dr. Mostafa Kamal El-Houshy, a faculty member at the Egyptian Military Academy.
During the session, Mr. Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education, reviewed the most important achievements and developments in the educational process in Egypt. He emphasized that Egypt has the largest pre-university education system in the Middle East and North Africa region, with more than 25 million students enrolled in public and private schools in the 2025/2026 academic year. The total number of students reached 25,689,571, while the number of schools reached 62,690, and the number of teachers reached 1,260,801.
The Minister explained that the enrollment percentages (boys - girls) in the various educational stages for the 2024/2025 academic year were as follows: primary education (boys 51.1%, girls 48.9%), preparatory education (boys 51.4%, girls 48.6%), and general and technical secondary education (boys 51.7%, girls 48.3%).
Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif pointed out that this analysis demonstrates the extent of equality and fairness between males and females in Egyptian educational institutions.
Regarding reducing learning poverty and improving the quality of education, the Minister affirmed that the Ministry prioritizes improving the quality of education to provide a modern learning environment that keeps pace with global changes. He explained that the measures taken include updating curricula according to international standards, implementing weekly and monthly assessments, and expanding school construction. He noted that 150,000 classrooms have been built in the past ten years. He also mentioned that a plan has been developed to eliminate evening classes, increase teachers' teaching loads in exchange for financial incentives, and adjust the academic year's timetable, which has contributed to improving the distribution of class schedules and providing approximately 33% of the teaching staff.
The Minister also reviewed efforts to enhance children's reading ability by the age of ten. He explained that the Ministry has targeted the development of reading and writing skills for struggling students by enhancing teachers' skills to equip students with basic reading and writing skills through training teachers in the latest educational methodologies.
The first phase of the program covered 10 governorates, encompassing 980 schools and a total of one million primary school students. Results showed a marked improvement in achievement and comprehension between February and May 2025. The program was then expanded to first and second grade students between May and September 2025, reaching a total of 246,917 students, representing 6.32% of the total enrolled student population.
The second phase, targeting students in grades three through six in 1,000 schools across 10 other governorates, began this November.
Regarding the quality of education, the Minister noted the reduction of student density to fewer than 50 students per classroom. The shortage of teachers in core subjects in all schools was addressed through the appointment of teachers via the Presidential Initiative and those working on a per-lesson basis. A unit for supporting and measuring the quality of education was also established, and 2,800 inspectors were trained to monitor the educational process. Curricula were updated according to the latest international standards, with 94 curricula being developed this academic year. Assessment booklets were also introduced for the first time this academic year. Student attendance in schools reached 87.7%, with assessment systems updated to emphasize critical and creative thinking skills instead of rote memorization.
Concerning raising teacher competency, Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif affirmed that Egyptian teachers are among the most competent in the world. He pointed out that the Ministry has been keen to connect Egyptian teachers with the latest global practices through strategic partnerships and professional development programs. These programs included training 204,493 administrative and leadership personnel and implementing programs to qualify 1,000 teachers to obtain a diploma in educational administration and national security, preparing them for leadership positions. The Minister also noted the issuance of Law No. (15) of 2024 regarding the extension of service for retired teachers, and the coordination with the Central Agency for Organization and Administration and the Egyptian Military Academy to complete the presidential initiative to appoint 30,000 teachers annually over five years, of which 59,815 have already been appointed.
Regarding eliminating private tutoring, Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif explained that the Ministry addressed this phenomenon by implementing technical solutions, including relying on continuous assessments and student attendance exceeding 87.7%. This helped eliminate the phenomenon of private tutoring, especially in the mornings. The Egyptian Baccalaureate system was also introduced as an alternative to the General Secondary Certificate, ending the crisis of having only one exam opportunity. Furthermore, the "Our School" channels were activated to support distance learning, in addition to providing supplementary classes for a reasonable fee.