The Ministry of Education Launches the 33rd Annual Classical Arabic Speaking, Oratory, Poetry Recitation
In line with the directives of Mr. Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education, to support purposeful language activities and initiatives to develop the Arabic language as a fundamental pillar in building cultural awareness and strengthening national identity among students, the Ministry of Education and Technical Education announces the launch of the "Classical Arabic Speaking, Oratory, Poetry Recitation, and Advanced Grammar Study" competition for the 2025/2026 academic year. This is the 33rd year of the nationwide competition, which will be held at the main Student Union building in Agouza.
The Ministry explains that the competition aims to raise students' proficiency in Arabic and its four basic skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It also seeks to revive the art of impromptu oratory to build effective personalities, enhance students' expressive poetry recitation skills, improve their style and pronunciation, and foster their ability to convey meaning and develop linguistic and literary appreciation. Furthermore, the competition aims to activate students' ability to speak Modern Standard Arabic on topics they wish to express and discuss, train them to correctly evaluate their reading and writing grammatically, and cultivate Arabic language skills as a national language that instills a sense of belonging in young people.
The Ministry indicates that the competition targets male and female students in the third year of preparatory school (ninth grade) from public, national, private, STEM, and visually impaired schools, as well as male and female students in the second or third year of secondary school (one student per year). Each year has a separate exam tailored to the student's literature (poetry and prose) and their mastery of grammar and spelling rules.
The Ministry confirms that the competition will be held across several levels, beginning at the school level from Tuesday, February 10, 2026, to Thursday, February 12, 2026; then at the educational administration level from Sunday, February 15, 2026, to Tuesday, February 17, 2026; then at the governorate level from Sunday, February 22, 2026, to Tuesday, February 24, 2026; culminating at the national level for preparatory school students, secondary school students (general education), and visually impaired students, on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
For the assessment system for preparatory and secondary school students (general level only), the evaluation consists of two exams. The first is a written exam that measures the student's level in literary analysis, grammar, and spelling. The second is an oral exam, and the student's performance is assessed based on their self-confidence, general demeanor, ability to deliver persuasive and impactful poetry, linguistic skills (pronunciation, word choice, vocal tone), and impromptu speaking.
The competition concludes with an awards ceremony honoring the top winners nationwide at the Ministry of Education and Technical Education headquarters in the New Administrative Capital on Thursday, April 9, 2026, in recognition of their linguistic excellence and to encourage them to continue their creativity in the Arabic language.