Egypt is accelerating its education system reform ahead of the 2026–2027 school year. The government has announced the recruitment of 43,000 teachers and plans to phase out evening classes by 2027–2028. The reform aims to reduce class sizes and address the shortage of teachers.
In Egypt, 43,000 teachers have been recruited for the 2026–2027 school year, a figure described by Education Minister Mohamed Abdel-Latif as unprecedented. The country also plans to end evening classes in schools by the 2027–2028 school year. The reform comes after decades of overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages. The ministry says it has reduced the average class size in primary schools from 63 to 41 students and eliminated classes with more than 100 students.
As for the new generation of teachers joining us, we have just announced that 43,000 teachers were recruited at the beginning of the current school year. This is a very significant and unprecedented figure. Recruiting 43,000 teachers in a single school year represents a considerable effort.
Mohamed Ahmed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education
The recruitment of 43,000 teachers also aims to address a shortage that had reached nearly 470,000 positions in key subjects, according to a UNICEF study published in May 2026. The government says it has strengthened teacher training. Some 183,499 teachers and education officials took part in 80 workshops organized with UNICEF over a two-month period. In addition, 150,000 more teachers received training with support from international partners.
We now have nearly 150,000 new teachers who make up this new generation and are currently working with us. They receive ongoing training in collaboration with international institutions specializing in teacher training, ensuring that training standards are aligned with international standards in this field.
Mohamed Ahmed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education
At the same time, Egypt is preparing a secondary education reform with the gradual introduction of the Egyptian Baccalaureate, which is set to replace the Thanaweya Amma system. The new model aims to ease the pressure associated with exams and develop new skills, particularly in programming, artificial intelligence, and financial literacy. The government also aims to improve school attendance, with a target increase from 87% to 96%.
