Egypt’s Education Minister, Mohamed Abdel Latif, has reaffirmed that international schools must teach Arabic, history and religious education, rejecting calls to make these subjects pass-or-fail requirements rather than components of students’ final scores.
The minister stated the government’s position on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, during an education discussion at Egypt Forum 2026, which runs from 19 to 24 October. He maintained that students attending international institutions in Egypt must study the subjects.
According to a report by Egyptian Streets, Arabic and history each account for 10 per cent of the total score on the international certificate equivalent to Egypt’s secondary school certificate. The grades are based on a general examination administered by the ministry.
Abdel Latif said the requirements apply to students who completed middle school in the 2024/2025 academic year and are progressing through secondary education. He added that families had received four years’ notice of the requirements.
The policy has drawn objections from representatives of international school operators, who argue that students already face demanding academic workloads under international diploma programmes. They have also raised concerns about the additional pressure of including nationally assessed subjects in students’ final scores.
The government’s position reflects its determination to ensure that students following international curricula retain knowledge of Egypt’s language, history and religious traditions. It also reinforces the role of national education authorities in setting curriculum requirements for schools operating within the country.
For international schools, the policy highlights the importance of balancing overseas qualifications with local curriculum obligations. School administrators and parents will need to understand the applicable examination rules and how the subjects affect students’ overall results.
The development contributes to a wider debate about how countries can preserve national identity and language while allowing students to pursue internationally recognised qualifications.
Source: Egyptian Streets
Egypt’s Education Minister: No More Debate on Arabic and Religion Classes in International Schools
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