Refugee children in Egypt face barriers to education amid residency, financial hurdles

Tens of thousands of refugee and asylum-seeking children in Egypt are being denied access to education due to complex bureaucratic requirements, discriminatory practices, and financial constraints, according to a recent report by Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The report highlights how the country’s policies and economic challenges are depriving many of their fundamental right to education.

As of November 2024, Egypt hosts approximately 834,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

The government estimates that over 1.2 million people have fled from Sudan alone, with nearly 246,000 school-age refugee children in the country.

Alarmingly, half of these children are currently out of school, a situation exacerbated by Egypt’s ongoing economic crisis and restrictive policies.

Egyptian law mandates proof of residency for public school enrollment, a requirement that many refugee families cannot meet. Parents report waiting over a year to secure legal residency due to a convoluted process that includes acquiring a UNHCR registration card, appointments with the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and costly documentation fees.

Even children from nationalities permitted to attend public schools—such as Sudan, South Sudan, and Yemen—face challenges.

They must provide recognized school certificates or pass placement tests, processes that are often inaccessible. School administrators frequently reject refugee children without residency permits, discouraging many families from even attempting to enroll their children.

The cost of education further restricts access. Public schools charge annual fees of up to 520 Egyptian pounds (approximately $10), and placement tests can cost an additional $60. For many refugee families, these expenses are prohibitive.

Private and community schools, often the only alternatives, are even more expensive, leaving many children at home without access to learning.

Discrimination and bullying within schools also deter families from enrolling their children. Refugee students, particularly those from African countries, report racial abuse, verbal and physical harassment, and neglect from teachers. “Because of the color of our skin, they consider us non-human,” said a South Sudanese student who experienced segregation and violence in school.

Under international law, Egypt is obligated to provide free and compulsory education to all children without discrimination. However, HRW notes that public schools often fail to comply with these standards. The organization has called on the Egyptian government to:

Amend its education laws to guarantee equal access for all children, including refugees.

Eliminate bureaucratic barriers such as residency requirements and school fees.

International partners, including the UN, are also urged to increase funding for education programs to support refugees in Egypt.

“Egyptian authorities should stop putting up walls that keep children who have already fled their home countries from getting an education,” said Bassam Khawaja, HRW’s deputy Middle East and North Africa director.

Beyond the immediate educational challenges, the lack of schooling is affecting refugee children’s mental health.

Many who have fled conflict and violence are trapped at home, without the stability and social interaction that education provides. Families fear that an entire generation of children could grow up illiterate and without hope for the future.